Employment Agreement between NUCO2 Inc. and Louis Romano (Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing)

 EXHIBIT 10.26 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT -------------------- AGREEMENT entered into effective as of the 15th day of February 2002, by and between NUCO2 INC., a Florida corporation having its principal office at 2800 SE Market Place, Stuart, Florida 34997 (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation"), and LOUIS ROMANO, currently residing at 502 Quail Pointe Lane, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082 (hereinafter referred to as the "Executive"). W I T N E S S E T H: - - - - - - - - - - WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ the Executive and the Executive desires to be employed by the Corporation upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, it is agreed as follows: ARTICLE 1 - EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND DUTIES --------------------------------------- 1.1 The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to provide services for the Corporation as its Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. The Executive shall serve as and perform the duties of Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Corporation during the Term (defined hereinafter) of this Agreement. 1.2 The Executive agrees to devote his full business time during regular business hours to working for the Corporation and performing such duties as shall from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation consistent with his position as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. During the Term of his employment hereunder, the Executive shall have no interest in, or perform any services during regular business hours for any other company, whether or not such company is competitive with the Corporation, except that this prohibition shall not be deemed to apply to passive investments in businesses not competitive with the business of the Corporation or to investments of 5% or less of the outstanding stock of public companies whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. For purposes of this Paragraph l.2, a "passive investment" shall be deemed to mean investment in a business which does not require or result in the participation of the Executive in the management or operations of such business except during times other than regular business hours and which does not interfere with his duties and responsibilities to the Corporation. Nothing contained herein shall limit the right of the Executive to make speeches, write articles or participate in public debate and discussions in and by means of any medium of communication or serve as a director or trustee of any non-competing corporation or organization, provided that such activities are not inconsistent with the Executive's obligations hereunder.  1.3 Consistent with the Executive's aforesaid duties the Executive shall, at all times during the Term hereof, be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the Chief Executive Officer with respect to his duties, responsibilities and the exercise of his powers. 1.4 The services of the Executive hereunder shall be rendered primarily at the Corporation's principal executive office currently in Stuart, Florida; provided, however, that the Executive shall make such trips outside of Stuart, Florida as shall be reasonably necessary in connection with the Executive's duties hereunder. 1.5 The term of the Executive's employment hereunder shall commence upon the date of this Agreement (with the understanding that prior to commencing his duties at the principal executive office of the Corporation he will (a) perform his duties outside of the principal executive office of the Corporation and shall no later than March 1, 2002 commence his duties at the principal executive office of the Corporation and (b) in lieu of the Base Salary (defined hereinafter) otherwise payable for such period, be paid $25,000) and such employment shall continue, except as otherwise provided herein, through February 28, 2006 (the "Term"). ARTICLE 2 - COMPENSATION ------------------------ 2.1 The Corporation shall pay to the Executive during the Term of his employment by the Corporation and the Executive shall accept as his entire compensation for his services hereunder: (a) A base salary ("Base Salary") at the rate of $165,000 per annum, payable in accordance with the Corporation's regular payment schedule for its employees. The Base Salary will be reviewed annually and may be increased from time to time by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. 2  (b) Effective as of the date of this Agreement, the Corporation shall grant to the Executive stock options (the "Options") pursuant to the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan (of which the maximum amount allowed by United States tax law shall be considered as incentive stock options) to purchase up to One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of the Corporation's common stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock"), with one-fifth of such Options vesting on the date hereof, an additional one-fifth of such Options vesting on the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement, an additional one-fifth of such Options vesting on the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement, an additional one-fifth of such Options vesting on the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement, and the remaining one-fifth of such Options vesting on the fourth anniversary of the date of this Agreement, provided that such Options shall vest only so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Corporation. The exercise price for such Options shall be equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on the date hereof. (c) During the Term of this Agreement and subject to the provisions hereof, the Executive shall be entitled, commencing with respect to fiscal year ending June 30, 2003 (and on each June 30 thereafter during the Term of this Agreement), to an annual bonus based upon the relative performance of the Corporation and the Executive for the applicable fiscal year. The bonus may be comprised of options to purchase shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation and cash payments, the relative amounts of which will be determined in good faith by the Chief Executive Officer, in his sole discretion, and approved by the Corporation's Board of Directors. The Corporation achieving its projected EBITDA and other operating and financial criteria as projected in the Corporation's business plan established by its Board of Directors for the applicable fiscal year shall be the major consideration in determining the amount of the annual bonus. The annual cash bonus will have a target of forty (40%) percent of Base Salary based on the full achievement of its projected EBITDA and other operating and financial criteria as projected in the Corporation's business plan approved by the Board of Directors and the Executive meeting individual achievement goals recommended by the Executive and approved by the Chief Executive Officer. (d) The Corporation will reimburse the Executive for his necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of his employment and in connection with his duties hereunder. 3  (e) The Corporation will provide the Executive with medical insurance coverage under the Corporation's group medical insurance policy and the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all other health, welfare, retirement, disability, and other benefit plans, if any, available to employees and senior executives of the Corporation (collectively, the "Benefit Plans"). (f) The Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation and/or sick days during each twelve (12) month period during the term of this Agreement of the same duration as provided to other executive officers of the Corporation, but in no event shall he receive less than four (4) weeks paid vacation per year. (g) In connection with the Executive's move to the Stuart, Florida area, the Corporation shall pay the Executive's (a) reasonable moving expenses, (b) sales commission on his current residence, (c) other direct closing costs and (d) temporary housing costs for a period not to exceed four (4) months, provided that the aggregate of such costs does not exceed $25,000. Any sums paid pursuant to this Paragraph 2.1(g) by the Corporation shall be grossed up to eliminate the cost to the Executive of income taxes, if any, paid on such sums received. ARTICLE 3 - TERMINATION ----------------------- 3.1 Except as otherwise provided herein, the Term of the employment of the Executive shall terminate: (a) automatically upon the death of the Executive; (b) at the option of the Corporation, upon written notice thereof to the Executive, in the event that the Executive shall become permanently incapacitated (as hereinafter defined); (c) at the option of the Corporation, upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice thereof to the Executive specifying the basis thereof, in the event of a material breach by the Executive with respect to (i), (ii) and (iii) below, which is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days after the Executive is provided with such written notice, or in the event that the Executive shall, during the Term of this Agreement, (i) engage in any criminal conduct constituting a felony and criminal charges are brought against the Executive by a governmental authority, (ii) knowingly and willfully fail or refuse to perform his duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with his position to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and (iii) knowingly and willfully engage in activities which would constitute a material breach of any term of this Agreement, or any applicable policies, rules or regulations of the Corporation or result in a material injury to the business condition, financial or otherwise, results of operation or prospects of the Corporation, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. For purposes of this Agreement, termination pursuant to this Paragraph 3.1(c) shall be deemed a termination "for cause". 4  For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be deemed permanently incapacitated in the event that the Executive shall, by reason of his physical or mental disability, fail to substantially perform his usual and regular duties for the Corporation for a consecutive period of four (4) months or for six (6) months in the aggregate in any eighteen (18) month period; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be deemed permanently incapacitated unless and until a physician, duly licensed to practice medicine and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation and the Executive, shall certify in writing to the Corporation that the nature of the Executive's disability is such that it will continue as a substantial impediment to the Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties hereunder. (d) At the option of the Corporation without cause within its sole and complete discretion upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice. (e) At the option of the Executive in the event that prior to January 9, 2003 Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., BOC Group plc, Air Liquide SA, AGA AB, Messer Greisheim Gmbh, Linde AG, Nippon Sanso, Airgas, Inc. or their Affiliates acquires 20% or more of the then outstanding securities of the Corporation. For purposes of the preceding sentence, one corporation shall be an Affiliate of another if the common ownership equals or exceeds 20%. 3.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (a) In the event that the Executive shall die during the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation shall, in lieu of any other compensation payable hereunder, pay to the beneficiaries theretofore designated in writing by the Executive (or to the Executive's estate if no such beneficiaries shall have been designated), a sum equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the compensation payable to the Executive during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the Executive's death, payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, without interest, commencing one month following such death. The Executive's estate shall retain all stock options vested prior to his death, if any. To the extent that the Corporation receives the proceeds on any life insurance on the life of the Executive (as provided in Paragraph 3.2(d)) such proceeds shall be paid, promptly after receipt, to the beneficiaries theretofore designated in writing by the Executive (or the Executive's estate if no such beneficiaries shall have been designated) to fund the obligations under this Paragraph 3.2(a) and shall reduce such obligations on a dollar for dollar basis. The balance, if any, due the Executive's estate under this Paragraph 3.2(a) shall thereafter be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, without interest, commencing one month following the Executive's death. (b) In the event that the employment of the Executive shall be terminated by reason of the Executive becoming permanently incapacitated, then, as additional consideration for his past services to the Corporation, he shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of his then current annual Base Salary, in equal monthly installments, without interest, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of such termination. Such payments shall be in addition to all income disability benefits, if any, which the Executive may receive from policies provided by or through the Corporation, including state-required short term disability. The Executive or, if applicable, his estate shall retain all stock options vested prior to his disability, if any. (c) In the event of a termination of the Executive's employment "for cause" as defined in Paragraph 3.1(c) above, the Executive shall not be entitled to (i) any payments other than such compensation as shall have been earned by him prior to the date of such termination and not paid as of the date of such termination, or (ii) any bonus pursuant to Paragraph 2.1(c). Any and all stock options granted to the Executive prior to the date of such termination shall terminate and shall no longer vest. Nothing herein, however, shall alter or impede the Executive's ability to exercise stock options properly vested as of such termination date in accordance with the terms of the stock option agreement in respect of such options. (d) In the event that the Corporation shall desire to fund the death benefits payable under Paragraph 3.2(a) above with a policy or policies of insurance on the life of the Executive or the disability benefits payable under Paragraph 3.2(b) above with a disability policy, the Executive shall cooperate with the Corporation in obtaining such insurance policy(ies) and shall submit to such medical examinations and execute such documents as may be required in connection with the obtaining of such insurance. 5  (e) In the event the Executive's employment is terminated at the discretion of the Corporation pursuant to Paragraph 3.1(d) or at the discretion of the Executive pursuant to Paragraph 3.1(e), he will be paid one (1) year's current Base Salary in equal quarterly installments during the one (1) year following the termination of employment and shall retain all stock options which vested prior to the termination of his employment. (f) In the event of any termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to this Article 3 other than "for cause" as defined in Paragraph 3.1(c), the Executive and/or his dependents and beneficiaries shall continue to participate during the applicable period of salary continuation in all medical insurance and related benefits provided by the Corporation on the same basis as prior to the date of his termination. ARTICLE 4 - RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS --------------------------------- 4.1 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive acknowledges that, because of his duties and his position of trust under this Agreement, he will become familiar with trade secrets and other confidential information (including, but not limited to, operating methods and procedures, secret lists of actual and potential sources of supply, customers and employees, costs, profits, markets, sales and plans for future developments) which are valuable assets and property rights of the Corporation and not publicly known and Executive acknowledges that public disclosure of such trade secrets and other confidential information will have an adverse effect on the Corporation and its business. Except in connection with the performance of his duties for the Corporation, the Executive agrees that he will not, during or at any time after the Term of this Agreement, either directly or indirectly, disclose to any person, entity, firm or corporation such trade secrets or other confidential information, including, but not limited to, any facts concerning the systems, methods, secret lists, procedures or plans developed or used by the Corporation, and not to release, use, or disclose the same except with the prior written consent of the Corporation. The Executive agrees to retain all such trade secrets and other confidential information in a fiduciary capacity for the sole benefit of the Corporation, its successors and assigns. All records, files, memorandums, reports, price lists, customer lists, secret lists, documents, equipment, systems, methods, procedures and plans, and the like, relating to the business of the Corporation, which the Executive shall use or prepare or come into contact with, shall remain the sole property of the Corporation. Upon termination of his employment by the Corporation or at any time that the Corporation may so request, the Executive will surrender to the Corporation all non-public papers, notes, reports, plans and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the business of the Corporation which he may then possess or have under his control. 4.2 NON-COMPETE. The Executive acknowledges that (i) the services to be performed by him under this Agreement are of a special, unique, extraordinary and intellectual character; (ii) the Executive possesses substantial technical and managerial expertise and skill with respect to the Corporation's business; (iii) the Corporation's business is national in scope and its products and services are marketed throughout the nation; (iv) the Corporation competes with other businesses that are or could be located in any part of the nation; (v) the covenants and obligations of Executive under this Paragraph 4.2 are material inducement and condition to the Corporation's entering into this Agreement and performing its obligations hereunder; and (vi) the provisions of this Paragraph 4.2 are reasonable and necessary to protect the Corporation's business. In consideration of the acknowledgments by the Executive, and in consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive by the Corporation, the Executive covenants that he will not, during the Term and for a period of two (2) years following the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Corporation, directly or indirectly: 6  (a) knowingly solicit any business, in the same product or business line or one that is closely related (it being understood that a non-beverage industrial gas business is not "closely related") to that in which the Executive was engaged during his employment, for or from, or become associated with, as principal, agent, employee, consultant, or in any other capacity, any person who, or entity which, at the time of, or during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such expiration or termination was in direct competition with the Corporation; (b) become a principal, agent, employee, consultant, or otherwise become associated with any person or entity which is engaged in direct or indirect competition (i.e., doing indirectly through others what the Executive could not do directly) with the Corporation. 4.3 ENFORCEMENT. The provisions of Article 4 of this Agreement are of a unique nature and of extraordinary value and of such a character that a material breach of the provisions of either Paragraphs 4.1 or 4.2 of this Agreement by the Executive will result in irreparable damage and injury to the Corporation for which the Corporation will not have any adequate remedy at law. Therefore, in the event that the Executive commits or threatens to commit any such breach, the Corporation will have (a) the right and remedy to have the provisions of Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being agreed that in any proceeding for an injunction, and upon any motion for a temporary or permanent injunction, the Executive's ability to answer in damages shall not be a bar or interposed as a defense to the granting of such injunction and (b) the right and remedy to require the Executive to account for and to pay over to the Corporation all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments and other benefits (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Benefits") derived or received by him as a result of any transactions constituting a breach of any of the provisions of Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement, and the Executive hereby agrees to account for and pay over such Benefits to the Corporation. Each of the rights and remedies enumerated in (a) and (b) above shall be independent of the other, and shall be severally enforceable, and all of such rights and remedies 7  shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Corporation under law or in equity. If any covenant in this Article 4 is held to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or against public policy, such covenant will be considered to be divisible with respect to scope, time and geographic area, and such lesser scope, time, or geographic area, or all of them, as the court of competent jurisdiction may determine to be reasonable, not arbitrary, and not against public policy, will be effective, binding, and enforceable against the Executive. The undertakings of Article 4 shall survive the termination or cancellation of the Agreement or of the Executive's termination. 8  ARTICLE 5 - SEVERANCE - CHANGE OF CONTROL ----------------------------------------- 5.1 SEVERANCE COMPENSATION. If prior to the expiration of the Term of this Agreement, there is a Change of Control (defined in Paragraph 5.2 below) and thereafter the Executive should resign his employment for Good Reason (as defined in Paragraph 5.3 below), the Executive shall be entitled to the following Severance compensation: (a) Continuation of all benefits, including without limitation medical, dental and life insurance for one year following the date of termination, or until the date on which the Executive first becomes eligible for insurance coverage of a similar nature provided by a firm that employs him following termination of employment by the Corporation, whichever occurs first. (b) Immediate vesting of any granted but unvested options to purchase Common Stock of the Corporation held by the Executive. (c) An amount equal to one (1) times current annual cash compensation to be paid within sixty (60) days of termination of employment. 5.2 CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control means (i) the direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all (50% or more) of the assets of the Corporation to any person or entity or group of persons or entities acting in concert as a partnership or other group (a "Group of Persons"), (ii) the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Corporation with or into another corporation with the effect that the shareholders of the Corporation, as the case may be, immediately following the merger, consolidation or other business combination, hold 50% or less of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the surviving corporation of such merger, consolidation or other business combination ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors, (iii) the replacement of a majority of the Corporation's Board of Directors in any given year as compared to the directors who constituted the Corporation's Board at the beginning of such year, and such replacement shall not have been approved by the Corporation's Board of Directors, as the case may be, as constituted at the beginning of such year, or (iv) a person or Group of Persons shall, as a result of a tender or exchange offer, open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise, have become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of securities of the Corporation representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors. 5.3 GOOD REASON. The Executive shall have Good Reason for terminating his employment with the Corporation under this Agreement if one or more of the following occurs: 9  (a) an involuntary change in the Executive's status or position with the Corporation which constitutes a demotion from the Executive's then current status or position and a material change in the nature or scope of powers, authority or duties inherent in such position; (b) layoff or involuntary termination of the Executive's employment, except in connection with the termination of the Executive's employment for Cause or as a result of the non-renewal of this Agreement or of the Executive's disability or death; (c) a reduction by the Corporation in the Executive's compensation; (d) any action or inaction by the Corporation that would adversely affect the Executive's continued participation in any Benefit Plan on at least as favorable basis as was the case at the time of such action or inaction, or that would materially reduce the Executive's benefits in the future under the Benefit Plan or deprive him of any material benefits that he then enjoyed, except to the extent that such action or inaction by the Corporation (i) is also taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of all employees generally, (ii) is required by the terms of any Benefit Plan as in effect immediately before such action or inaction; or (iii) is necessary to comply with applicable law or to preserve the qualification of any Benefit Plan under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; or (e) a material change of the principal work location. ARTICLE 6 - MISCELLANEOUS ------------------------- 6.1 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision, or any portion of any provision, of this Agreement shall be held to be void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and the remaining portion of any provision found void or unenforceable in part only, shall continue in full force and effect. 6.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE EXECUTIVE. The Executive represents and warrants that he has made no commitment of any kind whatsoever inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and that he is under no disability of any kind to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of his obligations hereunder. 10  6.3 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement being personal to the Executive, cannot be assigned by him. This Agreement may be assigned by the Corporation in the event and in connection with a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation provided that the assignee agrees in writing to assume all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement, that such assignment shall not relieve the Corporation of its obligations hereunder and that such assignment is not otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of Paragraph 5. Prompt written notice of such assignment shall be provided by the Corporation to the Executive. 6.4 JURISDICTIONAL CONSENT. Any dispute or controversy between the parties relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof shall be determined by the Supreme Court, County of Martin, State of Florida. The service of any notice, process, motion or other document in connection with an action under this Agreement, may be effectuated by either personal service upon a party or by certified mail duly addressed to him at his address set forth on Page 1 hereof. 6.5 NOTICES. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address of the intended recipient as herein set forth or to such other address as a party may theretofore have specified in writing to the other. Any notice or communication intended for the Corporation shall be addressed to the attention of its Board of Directors. 6.6 WAIVER. A waiver of any breach or violation of any term, provision, agreement, covenant, or condition herein contained shall not be deemed to be a continuing waiver or a waiver of any future or past breach or violation. 11  6.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT/GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Corporation and the Executive relating to the latter's employment, supersedes any prior agreement between the parties relating to such matter, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida and may not be changed, terminated or discharged orally. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands as of the day and year first above written. NUCO2 INC. By: /s/ Michael DeDomenico ---------------------- Name: Michael DeDomenico Title: Chairman and CEO /s/ Louis Romano ---------------- LOUIS ROMANO