Employment Agreement - American Seafoods LP, American Seafoods Co. LLC and Hallvard Muri
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made and entered into as of the
28th day of January 2000, among AMERICAN SEAFOODS, L.P. ("Parent") and AMERICAN
SEAFOODS COMPANY LLC ("Employer" or the "Company") and HALLVARD MURI who
resides at 17071 12/th/ Avenue N.W., Shoreline, Washington 98177 ("Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ Executive and Executive
desires to accept employment with Employer upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, it is
hereby agreed as follows:
1. Employment Term. Employer agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive agrees to be so employed, in the capacity of Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer, for a term commencing on the date hereof and ending on
the fifth anniversary of the date hereof (the "Initial Term"); provided,
however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, this Agreement may be earlier terminated pursuant to the terms
hereof. The term of this Agreement will automatically extend past the Initial
Term for succeeding periods of one year each unless either party terminates this
Agreement as of the end of the Initial Term, or as of the end of any subsequent
one-year period (in either case, the "Termination Date"), by delivering notice
to the other party specifying the applicable Termination Date not earlier than
180 days and not later than 120 days prior to the date so specified. "Employment
Term" as used herein shall mean the term of this Agreement including any
automatic extensions pursuant to the preceding sentence.
2. Position and Duties. Executive shall (in accordance with
Section 12 hereof) diligently and conscientiously devote his full business time,
attention, energy, skill and best efforts to the business of Employer and the
discharge of his duties hereunder. Executive's duties under this Agreement shall
be to serve as Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer, with the
responsibilities, rights, authority and duties customarily pertaining to such
office and as may be established from time to time by or under the direction of
the Board of Directors or similar governing body of Employer (the "Board") or
its designees, and Executive shall report to the President of American Seafoods
Company LLC. Executive shall also act as an officer and/or director and/or
manager of such subsidiaries of Employer as may be designated by the Board,
commensurate with Executive's office, all without further compensation, other
than as provided in this Agreement.
3. Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. Employer shall pay to Executive base salary
compensation at an annual rate of $250,000. In January 2001 and annually
thereafter, the Board
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shall review Executive's base salary in light of the performance of Executive
and the Company, and may, in its sole discretion, increase or decrease (but not
decrease below $250,000) such base salary by an amount it determines to be
appropriate. Executive's annual base salary payable hereunder, as it may be
increased or decreased from time to time, is referred to herein as "Base
Salary." Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with
Employer's payroll practices in effect from time to time for executive officers,
but in no event less frequently than monthly
(b) Bonus. In addition to Base Salary, Executive may receive
an annual bonus of an amount to be determined by the Board in its sole
discretion, taking into consideration individual and corporate performance.
Further, Executive shall be entitled to receive with respect to each fiscal year
during the Employment Term a nondiscretionary bonus if the EBITDA (as defined on
Schedule I hereto) of Parent and its subsidiaries in such fiscal year exceeds
certain targets. The amount and calculation of such bonus are described with
particularity on Schedule I hereto. In no event will (i) the nondiscretionary
bonus be payable if at the time of payment or at any time during the year of
measurement the Company was in default under any credit agreement relating to
indebtedness for borrowed money or (ii) the annual bonus (including
discretionary and nondiscretionary portions thereof) in any year exceed 150% of
Executive's Base Salary. The annual bonus with respect to any year, if any,
shall be paid within 30 days after the receipt by the Board of audited financial
statements for Parent and its subsidiaries for the pertinent year.
(c) Equity Investment by Executive. Concurrently with the
signing of this Agreement, Executive is purchasing, pursuant to a subscription
agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Executive and Parent, 2,500
Regular Units in Parent for an aggregate purchase price of $250,000. Executive's
purchase of such partnership units is being funded by a loan in the amount of
$250,000 from Parent to Executive pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
loan documentation attached as Exhibit A hereto.
(d) Option Grants.
(i) Concurrently with the signing of this Agreement, Company
shall, grant Executive non-qualified options to purchase 5,550 Regular
Units in Parent, at a per unit price equal to $100.
(ii) The grant of 5,550 options pursuant to this Paragraph
3(d) shall be comprised of 1,850 Series A Options, 1,850 Series B
Options, and 1,850 Series C Options. All such options shall be subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in the Option Agreements
applicable to such Series, forms of which are attached hereto as
Exhibits B-1, B-2 and B-3 and the American Seafoods L.P. Year 2000 Unit
Option Plan referred to therein.
4. Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in
all employee benefit programs of Employer offered from time to time during the
term of Executive's employment hereunder by Employer to employees or executives
of Executive's rank, to the extent that Executive qualifies under the
eligibility provisions of the applicable plan or plans, in each case
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consistent with Employer's then-current practice as approved by the Board from
time to time. The foregoing shall not be construed to require Employer to
establish such plans or to prevent the modification or termination of such plans
once established, and no such action or failure thereof shall affect this
Agreement. Executive recognizes that Employer and its affiliates have the
right, in their sole discretion, to amend, modify or terminate their benefit
plans without creating any rights in Executive. As promptly as practical
following the execution of this Agreement, Company shall credit Executive's
deferred compensation account with the sum of $130,000. Executive hereby
releases American Seafoods Company and its affiliates from all obligations,
including deferred salary obligations, under Executive's existing employment
contract, which is hereby terminated.
5. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to up to four weeks
of paid vacation per calendar year. A maximum of one week of vacation time may
be carried over from one calendar year and into the following calendar year;
provided however, that the vacation time be exercised prior to the end of the
subsequent calendar year.
6. Expenses. To the extent that Executive's reasonable and
necessary expenditures for travel, entertainment and similar items made in
furtherance of Executive's duties under this Agreement comply with Employer's
expense reimbursement policy, are wholly or partially deductible by Employer
for federal income tax purposes pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended and are documented and substantiated by Executive as required by the
Internal Revenue Service and the policies of Employer, Employer shall reimburse
the Executive for such expenditures; provided documentation therefor is
submitted not later than 45 days after such expense is incurred. In addition,
Employer shall reimburse Executive for the cost of up to five advance puchase
round trip coach class tickets from Seattle to Oslo.
7. Termination by the Company.
(a) Employer shall have the right to terminate the
Employment Term under the following circumstances (and also as contemplated by
Section 8(b)):
(i) upon the death of Executive;
(ii) in the event of a disability which prevents or
seriously inhibits Executive from performing his duties for 60
consecutive days as determined in good faith by the Board, upon 30 days
written notice from Employer to Executive; or
(iii) for Cause (as defined below).
"Cause" as used in this Agreement shall mean (i) Executive's commission of a
felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, misrepresentation,
embezzlement or theft, (ii) Executive's engaging in any activity that is harmful
(including, without limitation, alcoholic or other self-induced affliction), in
a material respect; to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, monetarily or
otherwise, as determined by a majority of the Board; (iii) Executive's material
malfeasance (including without limitation, any intentional act of fraud or
theft), misconduct, or
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gross negligence in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder;
(iv) Executive's significant violation of any statutory or common law duty of
loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) Executive's material
breach of this Agreement or of a material Company policy (including without
limitation, disclosure or misuse of any confidential or competitively sensitive
information or trade secrets of the Company or a subsidiary); or (vi)
Executive's refusal or failure to carry out directives or instructions of the
Board that are consistent with the scope and nature of Executive's duties and
responsibilities set forth herein, in the case of clause (v) or (vi) above, only
if such breach or failure continues for more than 10 days following written
notice from Employer describing such breach or failure.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Paragraph 7(a), or for any other reason (except by Executive pursuant to
Paragraph 8 or by Employer other than pursuant to Paragraph 7(a)), Executive's
rights and Employer's obligations hereunder shall forthwith terminate except
that Employer shall pay Executive his Base Salary earned but not yet paid
through the date of termination. In addition, if the Executive is terminated
pursuant to Paragraph 7(a)(i) or 7(a)(ii), Employer shall also pay Executive
within 30 days following receipt of audited financial statements for the year
during which such termination occurred, a prorated annual bonus in respect of
the partial year during which such termination occurred, the amount to be equal
to the full amount of the nondiscretionary bonus, if any, that would be due
under Section 3(b) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in such fiscal year prior to such termination and the denominator
of which is 365.
8. Termination by Executive.
(a) Executive shall have the right to terminate the
Employment Term for Good Reason (as defined below), upon 60 days' written
notice to the Board given within 60 days following the occurrence of an event
constituting Good Reason; provided that Employer shall have 10 days after the
date such notice has been given to the Board in which to cure the conduct
specified in such notice. For purposes of this Agreement "Good Reason" shall
mean:
(i) the Company's failure to pay or provide when
due Executive's Base Salary, which failure is not cured within 10 days
after the receipt by the Board from Executive of a written notice
referring to this provision and describing such failure; or
(ii) the failure to continue Executive in his
position as provided in Paragraph 1 or removal of him from such
position; or
(iii) a material diminution of Executive's
responsibilities, duties or status, which diminution is not rescinded
within 30 days after the date of receipt by the Board from Executive
of a written notice referring to this provision and describing such
diminution.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Paragraph 8(a), or if Employer shall terminate Executive's employment under this
Agreement other than pursuant to Paragraph 7(a), Executive shall be entitled to
the following, which he acknowledges to be fair
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and reasonable, as his sole and exclusive remedy, in lieu of all other remedies
at law or in equity for any such termination:
(i) Base Salary earned but not yet paid through the
date of termination;
(ii) a prorated annual bonus in respect of the partial
year during which such termination occurred, the amount to be equal to
the full amount of the nondiscretionary bonus, if any, that would be
due under Section 3(b) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of days in such fiscal year prior to such termination and
the denominator of which is 365; and
(iii) an amount equal to Executive's actual Base Salary
(not including any bonus paid or payable) for the 12-month period
immediately prior to such termination (or the period during which
Executive was employed by Employer if less than 12 months), payable in
24 equal installments during the 24-month period following such
termination (the "Severance Pay Period").
In the event of any such termination, Executive shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to secure alternative employment. During the last six months
of the Severance Pay Period, any compensation, income or benefits earned by or
paid to (in cash or otherwise) the Executive as an employee of or consultant to
a company other than the Company shall reduce the amount of severance payments
payable during such six-month period pursuant to Paragraph 8(b)(iii).
(c) If Executive terminates his employment at any
time during the term of this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 8(a),
without limiting or prejudicing any other legal or equitable rights or remedies
which Employer may have upon such breach by Executive, Executive will receive
his Base Salary earned but not yet paid though the date of termination.
9. Special Termination Provisions. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, in the event that (i) Executive chooses to terminate
this Agreement and the Employment Term without Good Reason and delivers to
employer a notice to such effect (a "Special Termination Notice") during
calendar year 2001, and (ii) Executive continues to discharge his duties
hereunder through the date that is 180 days following delivery of the Special
Termination Notice (the "Special Termination Date"), then, (x) Executive will be
deemed for all purposes under this Agreement and the Option Agreements relating
to the options granted to Executive to have terminated this Agreement and the
Employment Term without Good Reason as at the Special Termination Date, (y) the
Company will, if and to the extent permitted by any credit agreement or other
agreements relating to indebtedness for borrowed money, binding upon the Company
or its affiliates, repurchase Executive's equity in Parent for the Formula Value
(as hereinafter defined) thereof at the Special Termination Date or at such
later date as such purchase is permitted by such credit agreement or other
agreements (it being understood that the purchase price will be applied first to
repay in full any loans from the Company or its affiliates to Executive) and
(z) the Company will reimburse Executive (in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$20,000) for the following expenses that he may incur in relocating to Norway:
(I) the
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reasonable cost of round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and related
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Executive and his family in connection with
locating a residence in Norway and (II) the reasonable cost of transporting
Executive's and his immediately family's household goods to Norway.
As used in this Section 9:
"Formula Value" means, at any date for any equity interest in
Parent, the product of (A) the percentage interest in Parent that such equity
interest represents on a Fully Diluted Basis; and (B) the amount by which (i)
the product of five multiplied by the EBITDA (as defined on Schedule I hereto)
of Parent and its subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters most recently ended
at the date of determination, exceeds (ii) the consolidated indebtedness for
borrowed money of Parent and its subsidiaries as at the date of determination;
and
"Fully Diluted Basis" means a basis which assumes that each
warrant, option or other equity equivalent of Parent that is exercisable or
would become exercisable upon a sale of all of the equity of Parent at the date
of determination is fully exercised and the exercise price therefor paid;
provided however that (i) any such instrument that, on the date of
determination, has an exercise price in excess of the Formula Value of the
securities for which it is exercisable will be deemed not to have been exercised
and (ii) any such instrument the vesting or exercisability of which depends upon
the performance of the Parent or the results of a sale of the equity of Parent
will be deemed exercised only to the extent, determined on an iterative basis,
if appropriate, that such instrument would be exercisable upon such a sale of
the equity of Parent.
10. Services Unique. Executive recognizes that Executive's
services hereunder are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and
intellectual character giving them a peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be
reasonably or adequately compensated for in damages, and in the event of a
breach of this Agreement by Executive (particularly, but without limitation,
with respect to the provisions hereof relating to the exclusivity of Executive's
services and the provisions of Paragraph 12), the Company shall, in addition to
all other remedies available to it, be entitled to equitable relief by way of an
injunction and any other legal or equitable remedies. Anything to the contrary
herein not withstanding, the Company may seek such equitable relief in a federal
or state court in New York, and the Executive hereby submits to jurisdiction in
those courts.
11. Protection of the Company's Interests. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, all rights worldwide with respect to any intellectual or other
property of any nature conceived, developed, produced, created, suggested or
acquired by Executive during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending
six months following the termination of Executive's employment hereunder shall
be deemed to be a work made for hire and shall be the sole and exclusive
property of Employer. Executive agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver to
Employer at Employer's request, such further documents as the Employer finds
appropriate to evidence the Employer's rights in such property. Executive
further acknowledges that in performing his duties hereunder, he will have
access to proprietary and confidential information and to trade secrets of
Employer and its affiliates. Any confidential and/or proprietary information of
Employer or its affiliates shall not be used by Executive or disclosed or made
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available by Executive to any person except (i) as required in the course of
Executive's employment or (ii) when required to do so by a court of law, by any
governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of Employer
or by any administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof)
with apparent jurisdiction to order him to divulge, disclose or make accessible
such information, it being understood that Executive will promptly notify,
Employer of such requirement so that Employer may seek to obtain a protective
order. Upon expiration or earlier termination of the term of Executive's
employment, Executive shall return to Employer all such information that exists
in written or other physical form (and all copies thereof) under Executive's
control.
12. Non-Competition.
(a) Exclusivity of Employment. Executive agrees that his
employment hereunder is on an exclusive basis, and that during the Employment
Term, he will not engage in any other business activity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Executive from serving on
the Boards of Directors of other corporations (subject to the approval of the
Board which shall not be unreasonably withheld), from engaging in charitable and
public service activities, or engaging in speaking and writing activities, or
from managing his personal investments, provided that such activities are
disclosed in writing to the Board in a notice that references this provision and
do not interfere with Executve's availability or ability to perform his duties
and responsibilities hereunder.
(b) Noncompete. Executive agrees that during the Employment Term,
and the Severance Pay Period (if applicable), and the 12-month period thereafter
(except if Executive's employment is terminated for Cause or Executive
terminates his employment without Good Reason, in which case such 12-month
period shall be extended to a 24-month period), he shall not, directly or
indirectly, engage in, or participate as an investor in, an officer, employee,
director or agent of, or consultant for, any entity engaging in any line of
business competitive with that of Employer or any of its subsidiaries, or any
line of business which Employer or any of its subsidiaries is contemplating;
provided however that, nothing herein shall prevent him from investing as less
than a 5% shareholder in the securities of any company listed on a national
securities exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system. Executive's
participation in an entity in any of the foregoing capacities, other than
participation described in the foregoing proviso, being sometimes referred to
herein as being a "Participant."
(c) Nonsolicitation of Employees. Executive agrees that during
the Employment Term and the Severance Pay Period (if applicable), and the
36-month period thereafter (the "Nonsolicitation Period"), he will not directly
or indirectly, employ, or be a Participant in any entity that employs, any
person previously employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in any
way induce or attempt to induce any person to leave the employment of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(d) Nonsolicitation of Customers. Executive agrees that during
the Nonsolicitation Period, he will not directly or indirectly, solicit or do
business with, or be a Participant in any entity that solicits or does business
with, any customer of Employer or any of its subsidiaries, nor shall Executive
in any way induce or attempt to induce any customer of
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Employer to do business with any person or entity other than Employer; provided
that, the foregoing shall not restrict Executive or any entity in which he is a
Participant from soliciting or doing business with any customer of Employer or
any of its subsidiaries with respect to a business that is not competitive with
the business of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or any line of business
that Employer or any of its subsidiaries is contemplating. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, after the expiration of the noncompetition period set forth in
Paragraph 12(b), Executive may participate as an investor in, an officer,
employee, director or agent of or consultant for an entity that does business
with one or more customers of Employer so long as Executive has no contact with
such customer and has no direct or indirect involvement in the solicitation of
business from any such customer.
(e) Standstill. Executive agrees that during the
Nonsolicitation Period, Executive shall not, except at the specific written
request of the Board:
(i) engage in or propose, or be a Participant in any entity
that engages in or proposes, a Rule 13e-3 Transaction (as defined in Rule
13e-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) or any other material
transaction, between Parent, Employer or any of its subsidiaries, on the
one hand, and Executive or any entity in which Executive is a Participant,
on the other hand;
(ii) acquire any equity securities of Parent, Employer or any of
its subsidiaries (other than partnership units issued to Executive by
Parent or issued to Executive by Parent upon exercise of options issued to
Executive by Parent), or be a participant in any entity that acquires any
equity securities of Parent, Employer or any of its subsidiaries;
(iii) solicit proxies, or be a Participant in any entity that
solicits proxies, or become a participant in any solicitation of proxies,
with respect to the election of directors of Parent, Employer or any of its
subsidiaries in opposition to the nominees recommended by the Board of any
such entity; or
(iv) directly or indirectly, engage in or participate in any
other activity that would be reasonably expected to result in a change of
control of Parent, Employer or any of its subsidiaries.
The foregoing provisions of this Paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit or
restrict the manner in which Executives exercises his voting rights in respect
of partnership units in Parent acquired in a manner that is not a violation of
the terms of this Paragraph 12.
13. Nondisparagement. Executive will not at any time during or after
this Agreement directly (or through any other person or entity) make any public
or private statements (whether oral or in writing) which are derogatory or
damaging to the Company, its business, activities, operations, affairs,
reputation or prospects or any of its officers, employees, directors or
shareholders. Employer will not at any time during or after the term of this
Agreement directly (or through any other person or entity) make any defamatory
public or private statements (whether oral or in writing) concerning the
Executive.
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14. Representation of the Parties. Executive represents and
warrants to Employer and Parent that Executive has the capacity to enter into
this Agreement and the other agreements referred to herein, and that the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and such other agreements
by Executive will not violate any agreement, undertaking or covenant to which
Executive is party or is otherwise bound. Each of Employer and Parent represents
to Executive that it is a limited liability company or limited partnership, as
applicable, and is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, that it is fully authorized and empowered by action of its
Board or general partner, as applicable, to enter into this Agreement and the
other agreements referred to herein, and that performance of its obligations
under this Agreement and such other agreements will not violate any agreement
between it and any other person, firm or other entity.
15. Key Man Insurance. Each of Employer and Centre Partners
Management LLC or its affiliates (collectively, "Centre Partners") will have the
right throughout the term of this Agreement, to obtain or increase insurance on
Executive's life in such amount as the Board or Centre Partners (as applicable)
determines, in the name of Employer or Centre Partners, as the case may be, and
for its sole benefit or otherwise, in the discretion of the Board or Centre
Partners (as applicable). Executive will cooperate in any and all necessary
physical examinations without expense to Executive, supply information, and sign
documents, and otherwise cooperate fully with each of Employer and Centre
Partners as Employer or Centre Partners (as applicable) may request in
connection with any such insurance. Executive warrants and represents that, to
his best knowledge, he is in good health and does not suffer from any medical
condition which might interfere with the timely performance of his obligations
under this Agreement.
16. Notices. All notices given under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered
personally, (b) three business days after being mailed by first class certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (c) one business day after
being sent by a reputable overnight delivery service, postage or delivery
charges prepaid, or (d) on the date on which a facsimile is transmitted to the
parties at their respective addresses stated below. Any party may change its
address for notice and the address to which copies must be sent by giving notice
of the new addresses to the other parties in accordance with this Paragraph 16,
except that any such change of address notice shall not be effective unless and
until received.
If to the Employer or Parent:
c/o Centre Partners Management LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 5050
New York, New York 10020
Facsimile: 212-332-5801
Attention: Scott Perekslis.
with a copy to:
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O'Melveny & Myers LLP
153 East 53/rd/ Street
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile: 212-326-2061
Attention: Jeffrey J. Rosen, Esq.
If to the Executive, to his address set forth above.
17. Entire Agreement, Amendments, Waivers, Etc.
(a) No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be
effective unless set forth in a writing signed by the Company and Executive. No
waiver by either party of any breach by the other party of any provision or
condition of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or
dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time.
Any waiver must be in writing and signed by the waiving party.
(b) This Agreement, together with the Exhibits and Schedules
hereto and the documents referred to herein and therein, sets forth the entire
understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written understandings and agreements.
There are no representations, agreements, arrangements or understandings, oral
or written, among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof which are
not expressly set forth herein, and no party hereto has been induced to enter
into this Agreement, except by the agreements expressly contained herein.
(c) Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to
require the commission of any act contrary to law, and wherever there is a
conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any present or future
statute, law, ordinance or regulation, the latter shall prevail but in such
event the provision of this Agreement affected shall be curtailed and limited
only to the extent necessary to bring it within legal requirements.
(d) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by Executive and his heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives, by the Company and its successors and assigns, by Parent and
its successors and assigns and, with respect to Paragraph 15, Centre Partners
and its successors and assigns. This Agreement and all rights hereunder are
personal to Executive and shall not be assignable. Each of the Company and
Parent may assign its rights under this Agreement to any successor by merger,
consolidation, purchase of all or substantially all of its and its subsidiaries'
assets, or otherwise; provided that such successor assumes all of the
liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company under this Agreement, either
contractually or as a matter of law.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement or the application
thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or
application of this Agreement that can be given effect without the invalid
provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are
declared to be severable.
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18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference
to principles of conflict of laws.
19. Right to Equitable Relief. Executive recognizes that Employer
will have no adequate remedy at law for his breach of any provision of Paragraph
11, 12 or 13 and in the event of any such breach or threatened breach he agrees
that Employer shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in addition to other
remedies available at law and/or hereunder.
20. Taxes. All payments required to be made to Executive
hereunder, whether during the term of his employment hereunder or otherwise
shall be subject to all applicable federal, state and local tax withholding
laws.
21. Headings, Etc. The headings set forth herein are included
solely for the purpose of identification and shall not be used for the purpose
of construing the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement. Unless otherwise
provided, references herein to Exhibits, Schedules and Paragraphs refer to
Exhibits and Schedules to and Paragraphs of this Agreement.
22. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy between Employer and
Executive, arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach of this
Agreement, or otherwise, shall be settled by arbitration in New York, New York,
administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its
Commercial Rules then in effect and judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The
arbitrator shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief that a court
of competent jurisdiction could order or grant, including, without limitation,
the issuance of an injunction. However, either party may, without inconsistency
with this arbitration provision, apply to any court having jurisdiction over
such dispute or controversy and seek interim provisional, injunctive or other
equitable relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is
otherwise resolved. Except as necessary in court proceedings to enforce this
arbitration provision or an award rendered hereunder, or to obtain interim
relief, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or
results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of
Employer and Executive.
23. Survival. Executive's obligations under the provisions of
Paragraphs 11, 12 and 13, as well as the provisions of Paragraphs 6, 7(b), 8(b)
and 16 through and including 20 and Paragraphs 22 and 23, shall survive the
termination or expiration of this Agreement.
24. Construction. Each party has cooperated in the drafting and
preparation of this Agreement. Therefore, in any construction to be made of this
Agreement, the same shall not be construed against any party on the basis that
the party was the drafter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
EMPLOYER:
AMERICAN SEAFOODS GROUP LLC
By /s/ Bernt O. Bodal
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Name: Bernt O. Bodal
Title: Managing Director
EXECUTIVE:
/s/ Hallvard Muri
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Hallvard Muri
AMERICAN SEAFOODS:
AMERICAN SEAFOODS, L.P.
By: ASC Management, Inc., its General
Partner
By /s/ Bernt O. Bodal
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Name: Bernt O. Bodal
Title: President
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SCHEDULE I
BONUS CALCULATION
Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 3(b) (including,
the requirement that there shall have occurred no default under credit
agreements applicable to Employer or its affiliates), the nondiscretionary bonus
described in Section 3(b) for any fiscal year shall be equal to (i) if EBITDA
for such fiscal year is less than 80% of Target EBITDA for such fiscal year,
zero dollars; (ii) if EBITDA for such fiscal year exceeds 120% of Target EBITDA
for such fiscal year, 150% of Executive's Base Salary for such fiscal year; and
(iii) if neither (i) nor (ii) applies, the product of 150% of Executive's Base
Salary during such fiscal year multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the amount by which EBITDA for such fiscal year exceeds 80% of Target EBITDA
for such fiscal year, and the denominator of which is 40% of Target EBITDA for
such fiscal year. Such bonus shall be determined by the Board in good faith on
the basis of the audited financial statement of Parent and its subsidiaries.
For these purposes:
"EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of the amounts for such
period of (i) net income (or loss) (excluding (I) interest income, (II) noncash
income items (other than ordinary accruals) and (III) extraordinary items), plus
(ii) to the extent deducted in determining consolidated net income, (x) interest
expense, (y) provisions for taxes based on net income and (z) depreciation and
amortization expense, each as determined for the Partnership and its
subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principals, consistently applied, except that no effect shall be
given to noncash gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts. EBITDA for any
period shall be determined by the Board acting in good faith following receipt
of audited financial statements for the relevant period and shall reflect as
expenses (determined on an iterative basis if necessary) any bonuses payable in
respect of such year.
"Target EBITDA" means, for any fiscal year, the amount set forth
in the table below opposite such fiscal year.
ANNUAL EBITDA TARGET
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FISCAL YEAR EBITDA
(in millions)
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2000 $ 88.6
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2001 $106.8
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2002 $109.9
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2003 $111.4
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2004 $116.4
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I-1