MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 5271 VIEWRIDGE COURT, SUITE 100 SAN DIEGO, CA 92123
Exhibit 10.1
MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
5271 VIEWRIDGE COURT, SUITE 100
SAN DIEGO, CA 92123
JULY 10, 2012
Dear Van:
Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (the Company) is pleased to continue your employment on the following terms:
1. Position. Your title will be Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing of the Company and you will report directly to David Schramm, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this letter agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.
2. Salary. The Company will continue to pay you a salary at the rate of $277,200 per year, payable in accordance with the Companys standard payroll schedule. This salary will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Companys employee compensation policies in effect from time to time.
3. Bonus. You will be eligible to be considered for an incentive bonus for each fiscal year of the Company. The bonus (if any) will be awarded based on objective or subjective criteria established by the CEO. Your target bonus will be equal to 50% of your annual base salary. The bonus for each fiscal year will be paid after the Companys books for that year have been closed and will be paid only if you are employed by the Company at the time of payment. The determinations of the CEO and the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee with respect to your bonus will be final and binding.
4. Employee Benefits. As an executive officer of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Companys vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.
5. Stock Options. The Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors or the Companys Board of Directors may consider granting you stock options to purchase shares of the Companys Common Stock, although the Company is not under any obligation to do so.
6. Restricted Shares. The Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors or the Companys Board of Directors may consider granting you restricted shares of the Companys Common Stock, although the Company is not under any obligation to do so.
7. Automobile Allowance. You will be provided with an automobile allowance of $16,000 per year. To the extent that any such reimbursements are taxable (i) the amount of any such expense reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided during your taxable year shall not affect any expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year; (ii) the reimbursement of the eligible expense shall be made no later than the last day of your taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred; and (iii) your right to any reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit or payment.
8. Severance Benefits. If the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than Cause and a Separation (as such terms are defined in Section 14), occurs, then the Company will continue to pay your base salary for a period of six months after your Separation. Your base salary will be paid at the rate in effect at the time of your Separation and in accordance with the Companys standard payroll procedures. The salary continuation payments will commence within 30 days after the Release Deadline and, once they commence, will be retroactive to the date of your Separation. However, this Section 8 will not apply unless you (i) have returned all Company property in your possession, (ii) have resigned as a member of the boards of directors of the Company and all of its subsidiaries, to the extent applicable, and (iii) have executed a general release of all claims that you may have against the Company or persons affiliated with the Company. The release must be in the form prescribed by the Company, without alterations. You must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by the Company in the prescribed form (the Release Deadline). The Release Deadline will in no event be later than 60 days after your Separation. If you fail to return the release on or before the Release Deadline, or if you revoke the release, then you will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 8.
9. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Like all Company employees, you will be required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Companys standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
10. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will be at will, meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this letter agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the Companys personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the at will nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
11. Tax Matters.
(a) Withholding. All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.
(b) Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each salary continuation payment under Section 8 is hereby designated as a separate payment. If the Company determines that you are a specified employee under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code at the time of your Separation, then (i) the salary continuation payments under Section 8, to the extent that they are subject to Section 409A of the Code, will commence during the seventh month after your Separation and (ii) the installments that otherwise would have been paid during the first six months after your Separation will be paid in a lump sum when the salary continuation payments commence.
(c) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.
12. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This letter agreement and Exhibit A constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, contain all of the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral or implied) between you and the Company. This letter agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this letter agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this letter agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this letter agreement, your employment with the Company or any other relationship between you and the Company (the Disputes) will be governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in San Diego in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.
13. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of this letter agreement and any and all claims relating to your employment with the Company will be settled by final and binding arbitration. The arbitration will take place in San Diego or, at your option, the County in which you primarily worked when the arbitrable dispute or claim first arose. The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association under its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. Any award or finding will be confidential. You and the Company agree to provide one another with reasonable access to documents and witnesses in connection with the resolution of the dispute. You and the Company will share the costs of arbitration equally, except that the Company will bear the cost of the arbitrators fee and any other type of expense or cost that you would not be required to bear if you were to bring the dispute or claim in court. Each party will be responsible for its own attorneys fees, and the arbitrator may not award attorneys fees unless a statute or contract at issue specifically authorizes such an award. This Section 13 does not apply to claims for workers compensation benefits or unemployment insurance benefits. Injunctive relief and other provisional remedies will be available in accordance with Section 1281.8 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
14. Definitions. The following terms have the meaning set forth below wherever they are used in this letter agreement:
Cause means (a) your unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets, (b) your breach of any agreement between you and the Company, (c) your material failure to comply with the Companys written policies or rules, (d) your conviction of, or your plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (e) your gross negligence or willful misconduct, (f) your continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from the Companys Board of Directors or (g) your failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested your cooperation.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Separation means a separation from service, as defined in the Treasury Regulations under Section 409A of the Code.
* * * * *
You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating both the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreement and the enclosed Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and returning them to me. This offer, if not accepted, will expire at the close of business on July 25, 2012. As required by law, your continued employment with the Company is contingent upon your providing legal proof of your identity and authorization to work in the United States.
Maxwell Technologies, Inc. |
/s/ David J. Schramm |
By: David J. Schramm |
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
I have read and accept this employment offer:
/s/ Van Andrews |
Signature of Van Andrews |
Attachment
Exhibit A: Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
INVENTION & SECRECY AGREEMENT
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INVENTION & SECRECY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
The undersigned warrants that the following is a complete description of all inventions, improvements, trade secrets and secret processes including patents and patent applications thereon, which the undersigned made, invested or conceived prior to entering the employ of MAXWELL and which are specifically excluded from coverage of the Invention and Secrecy Agreement between the undersigned and MAXWELL dated on _____________________, as provided in paragraph 4 thereof:
Van M. Andrews | /s/ Van M. Andrews | |||
EMPLOYEE NAME | EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE |
July 10, 2012 |
DATE |
EXCLUSIONS ACCEPTED FOR MAXWELL BY:
Shannon Kehle | /s/ Shannon Kehle | |||
NAME | SIGNATURE |
July 10, 2012 |
DATE |
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INVENTION & SECRECY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B
Except as set forth below, I represent to MAXWELL that there are no other contracts to assign inventions, designs or improvements now in existence between me and any other person or entity (see Section 1 (c) of the Agreement):
Van M. Andrews | /s/ Van M. Andrews | |||
EMPLOYEE NAME | EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE |
July 10, 2012 |
DATE |
EXCLUSIONS ACCEPTED FOR MAXWELL BY:
Shannon Kehle | /s/ Shannon Kehle | |||
NAME | SIGNATURE |
July 10, 2012 |
DATE |
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INVENTION & SECRECY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C
Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
9244 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
Gentlemen:
1. | I proposed to bring to my employment the following materials and documents of a former employer who is not generally available to the public, which materials and documents may be used in my employment. |
x No materials
See below
Additional sheets attached
The signature below confirms that my continued possession and use of these materials is authorized.
Van M. Andrews | /s/ Van M. Andrews | |||
EMPLOYEE NAME | EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE |
DATE |
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