AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EX-10.9 5 a2203483zex-10_9.htm EX-10.9

Exhibit 10.9

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 20th day of April, 2011, by and among CPG International Holdings LP (“CPG LP”), a Delaware limited partnership, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, CPG International Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Employer”), CPG International I Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CPG”), AZEK Building Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AZEK”) and Scranton Products Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Scranton,” together with CPG LP, Employer, CPG, AZEK, and Scranton, the “Companies”), and Jason Grommon (the “Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on March 26, 2009, the Companies and the Executive entered into an Employment Agreement, which set forth the terms of the Executive’s employment with Employer (the “Prior Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, on August 12, 2010, the Companies and the Executive entered into an amendment to the Prior Agreement (the “Prior Amendment”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Companies and the Executive hereby desire to amend and restate the terms of the Executive’s employment with Employer as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

PROVISIONS

 

1.             Term and Duties.  The Executive is currently employed as Senior Vice President, Operations of Employer.  Employer hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive until April 15, 2014 (the “Initial Term”) or until terminated in accordance with this Section 1 or Section 5.  Unless terminated by written notice of either party delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, Executive’s employment shall continue for successive one (1) year terms (each one (1) year term hereinafter referred to as a “Subsequent Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”) until terminated by written notice of either party delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the Subsequent Term.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, during the Term, the Executive shall devote his best efforts and abilities to the performance of the Executive’s duties on behalf of Employer and to the promotion of its interests consistent with and subject to the direction of Eric Jungbluth, the chief executive officer of Employer, or his successor.

 

2.             Exclusivity.  The Executive shall devote all of his business time, energies, attention and abilities to the operation of the business of Employer and shall not be actively involved in any other trade or business or as an employee of any other trade or business.

 

3.             Compensation.  In consideration of the services to be rendered by the Executive during the Term, Employer shall pay to the Executive $235,000 per year (“Base

 



 

Compensation”), payable bi-weekly and prorated for any partial employment period.  The Executive shall also be eligible to participate in the CPG International Inc. MIP plan.

 

4.             Benefits.  During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in such benefit programs offered by Employer as are offered to similarly-situated employees of Employer (except in the case of equity-based incentive plans where awards are subject to Board (or committee thereof) approval), subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan, benefit or program in question.  For each calendar year, the Executive shall be entitled to three (3) weeks vacation.

 

5.             Termination of Employment.

 

a)             If, during the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason, the Employer shall be obligated to pay the Executive all earned but unpaid Base Compensation, unpaid expense reimbursements and accrued but unused vacation (the “Accrued Amounts”).   If, during the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Employer other than for Cause, Employer shall be obligated, in addition to the payment of the Accrued Amounts, to continue to pay the Executive’s Base Compensation at the rate then in effect for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination date (the “Termination Payments”).  Employer’s obligation to make the Termination Payments shall be conditioned upon (i) the absence of a breach by the Executive of the Noncompetition Agreement dated as of March 26, 2009, entered into by the Companies and the Executive (the “Noncompetition Agreement”) and (ii) Executive’s execution, delivery and non-revocation of a valid and enforceable general release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to Employer (the “Release”) that becomes effective within thirty (30) days following the date of termination of employment.  Subject to Section 5(b), the Termination Payments shall be paid in installments on Employer’s regular payroll dates commencing on the first payroll date following the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of termination of employment with the first such payment including the aggregate amount that would have been paid to the Executive during the first thirty (30) days following the date of termination had the delay provided herein not applied. The Accrued Amounts shall be paid within thirty (30) days following the termination date.

 

b)            If the Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, any payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 5 which are subject to Section 409A shall not commence until six (6) months from the termination date, with the first payment to be equal to the aggregate amount that would have been paid to the Executive under this Section 5 during the first six (6) months immediately following the termination date had this Section 5(b) not been applicable.

 

c)             “Cause” as used herein shall mean the Executive’s (i) commission of an act which constitutes common law fraud, embezzlement (other than occasional, customary and de minimis use of the Companies’ property for personal purposes) or a felony, an act of moral turpitude, or of any tortious or unlawful act causing material harm to the Companies’ business, standing or reputation; (ii) gross negligence on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder; (iii) breach of his duty of loyalty or care to any of the Companies; (iv) other misconduct that is materially detrimental to any of the Companies; (v) ongoing refusal or failure to perform the Executive’s duties or the deliberate and consistent refusal to conform to or follow

 



 

any reasonable policy adopted by the Board, in each case after receiving written notice describing his noncompliance and being given a ten (10) business days opportunity to cure (to the extent curable) such non-compliance; or (vi) material breach by the Executive of this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of any of the Companies to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound, which material breach is not cured (to the extent curable) within ten (10) business days following written notice from Employer.

 

6.             Consideration.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the consideration set forth in the recitals to this Agreement and the rights and benefits hereunder are all and singularly valuable consideration which are sufficient for any or all of the Executive’s covenants set forth herein and in the Noncompetition Agreement.

 

7.             No Prior Agreements.  The Executive represents and warrants that his performance of all the terms of this Agreement does not and shall not breach any fiduciary or other duty or any covenant, agreement or understanding (including, without limitation, any agreement relating to any proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired in confidence, trust or otherwise) to which he is a party or by the terms of which he may be bound.  The Executive further covenants and agrees not to enter into any agreement or understanding, either written or oral, in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.             Notices.  All notices, requests, consents and demands by the parties hereto shall be delivered by hand, by confirmed facsimile transmission, by recognized national overnight courier service or by deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the party to be notified at the addresses set forth below:

 

if to the Executive:

 

Jason Grommon

[Intentionally Omitted]

 

if to Employer:

 

c/o AEA Investors LLC

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY  10055

Attn: General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Christopher Ewan, Esq.

 

Notices shall be effective immediately upon personal delivery or facsimile transmission, one (1) business day after deposit with an overnight courier service or three (3) business days after the

 



 

date of mailing thereof.  Other notices shall be deemed given on the date of receipt.  Any party hereto may change the address specified herein by written notice to the other parties hereto.

 

9.             Entire Agreement.  This Agreement cancels and supersedes the Prior Agreement, the Prior Amendment and any and all other prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the obligations of the Executive, whether oral or written.  This Agreement and the Noncompetition Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters herein provided, and no modifications or waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Companies and the Executive.

 

10.           Binding Effect.  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and its or his heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns, and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Companies and their successors and assigns, except that the duties and responsibilities of the Executive hereunder are of a personal nature and shall not be assignable or delegable in whole or in part.

 

11.           Severability.  In the event that any provision of this Agreement or application thereof to anyone or under any circumstance is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction to any extent for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or application of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid or unenforceable provision or application and shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision or application in any other jurisdiction.

 

12.           Remedies; Waiver.  No remedy conferred upon the Companies by this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity.  No delay or omission by the Companies in exercising any right, remedy or power hereunder or existing at law or in equity shall be construed as a waiver thereof, and any such right, remedy or power may be exercised by the party possessing the same from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient or necessary by such party in its sole discretion.

 

13.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which is an original and all of which shall constitute one instrument.  It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or any counterpart hereof to produce or account for any of the other counterparts.

 

14.           Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without application of conflict of laws principles.

 

15.           Headings.  The captions and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be construed as a part of this Agreement.

 

[signature pages follow]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

CPG INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LP

 

CPG INTERNATIONAL INC.

By: CPG Holding I LLC

 

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy C. Bevacqua

 

 

 

 

Name: Amy C. Bevacqua

By:

/s/ Amy C. Bevacqua

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

Name: Amy C. Bevacqua

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CPG INTERNATIONAL I INC.

 

AZEK BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy C. Bevacqua

 

By:

/s/ Amy C. Bevacqua

 

Name: Amy C. Bevacqua

 

 

Name: Amy C. Bevacqua

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCRANTON PRODUCTS INC.

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald C. Wharton

 

/s/ Jason Grommon

 

Name: Donald C. Wharton

 

Jason Grommon

 

Title: President