Employment Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2019, by and between XL Hybrids, Inc. and Dimitri N. Kazarinoff
Exhibit 10.2
September 30, 2019
Mr. Dimitri Kazarinoff
6046 Nottingham Pointe
Brighton MI 48116
Dear Dimitri:
On behalf of XL Hybrids, Inc. (Company) I am pleased to offer you a position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), reporting to the Companys Board of Directors.
Offer Specifics:
| Start Date: October 7, 2019, or another mutually agreed upon date. |
| Salary: You will initially receive a base salary of $325,000.00 annually, paid in accordance with Company payroll policies. Your base salary will be reviewed on a periodic basis in accordance with Company practices. This role is eligible for the Companys annual merit program. |
| Executive Bonus: You will be eligible for an annual bonus of thirty (30) percent of your base salary which, in 2019, will be based on mutually agreed upon and documented objectives developed between you and the XL Board of Directors. The bonus will typically pay out between 70%130% based performance variables in these agreed objectives. Your bonus for 2019 will be prorated and payable on or before March 15, 2020. You must be actively employed as of the date the bonus is earned and paid in order to be eligible for receipt of the bonus payment. |
| Stock Options: Upon Board of Directors approval, you will be granted an option to purchase up to 5,030,400 shares (the Option) of the Companys Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Companys Common Stock at the time of grant and pursuant to the Companys 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. The calculation of timing with respect to vesting will commence immediately upon the grant approval by the Board of Directors. Full vesting will be achieved after four (4) years from grant date. In the event of a Company Change in Control (CIC), and provided that you have been actively employed by the Company for a period of at least two (2) years, the vesting of the options shall accelerate such that the greater of the following shall become exercisable: (a) 50% of the remaining portion of the Options that are not then fully exercisable and (b) the portion of the Options that are not then fully exercisable which would have become exercisable in due course during the one-year period following the CIC. |
| Severance: Your employment may be terminated with or without cause, for any reason or no reason. In the event that your employment is terminated without Cause after you have completed six (6) months of continuous employment as CEO of the Company, you will be entitled to a severance payment equal to six (6) months of your then-current base salary (the Severance Payment) provided that you execute and do not subsequently revoke a waiver of claims in a form satisfactory to the Company. Cause will mean conduct by you which harms or would reasonably be expected to harm the Company including commission of fraud, misappropriation of funds, misconduct in the performance of duties, material breach of any Company policy, failure to perform the duties of your position, commission of a felony or any criminal act involving dishonesty or theft, or material noncompliance with applicable business and legal standards, including with respect to workplace discrimination or harassment. |
145 Newton St. Boston, MA 02135 P ###-###-####
| Temporary Living: You will be eligible to receive normal and customary temporary living expenses through December 31, 2019. Expenses shall be submitted utilizing the Companys internal expense reporting system. |
| Relocation: After sixty (60) days of employment, you will be eligible to receive up to fifty (50) thousand dollars in relocation assistance. This relocation assistance is contingent upon you establishing residence in the Boston area within six (6) months from your date of hire. In the event of a voluntary resignation within one (1) year after the relocation, all relocation funds are payable back to the Company. |
| Health & Welfare Plans: You will be eligible to participate in all Company Health & Welfare plans including but not limited to: Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement Plan, Life and Disability Insurances |
| Retirement Plan: Subject to pending Board action relating to amendment of its 401 (k) plan and policy, you would be eligible for participation in this plan without the six (6) month service requirement. |
| Paid Time Off: XLH has a PTO (Paid Time Off) policy by which each employee is afforded the flexibility to take vacation, take time off for illness and shift schedules as necessary. The PTO plan is only available to full-time, exempt (salaried) employees. You do not accrue PTO days as in traditional plans, and so will not be compensated for unused PTO time upon termination. |
| Expenses: The Company shall reimburse you for all reasonable and appropriate travel, entertainment and other expenses incurred or paid by you in connection with, or related to, the performance of your duties, in accordance with policies and procedures, and subject to limitations, adopted by the Company from time to time. |
| Withholding: All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. |
| Conditions of Employment: Your compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which requires employers to verify the employment eligibility and identity of new employees by requiring such employees to complete an Employment Eligibility Form I-9, which will be forwarded upon receipt of your acceptance. Please complete and return it and the appropriate required documents listed on the form. |
| Time: While employed, you will be required to devote your full business time and your best professional efforts to the performance of your duties and responsibilities for the Company, and to abide by all Company policies and procedures in effect from time to time. All employees may be subject to promotion, transfer or reassignment from time to time, as the Company determines appropriate |
| Confidential Information and Restricted Activities: As a condition of your employment, you will be required to sign the Companys standard Employee Covenants Agreement (Attachment A), no later than the first day of your employment. |
| Representations: You represent and warrant to XL Hybrids that your employment with the Company and fulfillment of the duties of your position will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement you have with any former employer or other person or entity. You also represent and warrant that you are not subject to any covenant against competition or similar covenants, or any other legal obligation, that would restrict or otherwise affect the performance of your duties and responsibilities to the Company. You agree that you will not bring with you, disclose or use on behalf of the Company any confidential or proprietary information of any former employer or other third party without that partys consent. |
145 Newton St. Boston, MA 02135 P ###-###-####
| At-Will Status of Employment: This letter and your response are not meant to, and do not, constitute a contract of employment for a specific term. Your employment with the Company is at-will. This means that, if you accept this offer, both you and the Company will retain the right to terminate your employment at any time, with or without notice or cause. |
This letter and its attachments constitute the entire offer for employment and the entire understanding between the parties regarding this offer for employment, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this letter. No modification to this offer letter will be effective unless in writing and signed by you and an authorized representative of XL Hybrids
By your acceptance of this Offer Letter, you agree to abide by the rules, regulations, instructions, personnel practices and policies of the Company, if any, and any changes therein that may be adopted from time to time by the Company.
Dimitri, our team is confident you possess the skills to help XL Hybrids be successful, and we look forward to you joining the team!
Please confirm your acceptance of this offer by signing below and returning this letter to me no later than close of business on October 6, 2019.
Yours truly,
/s/ Paul J. Crivello
Paul J. Crivello
Director, Human Resources
I have read and understand the terms of the offer set out above. As indicated by my signature below, I hereby accept this offer of employment and agree to the terms and conditions described in this offer letter. By signing below, I agree that no further promises or commitments were made to me regarding my employment with the Company, except as set forth in this letter and any attachments hereto.
Accepted:
/s/ Dimitri Kazarinoff | 9/30/2019 | |
Dimitri Kazarinoff | Date |
145 Newton St. Boston, MA 02135 P ###-###-####
ATTACHMENT A
XL HYBRIDS, INC.
EMPLOYEE COVENANTS AGREEMENT
In consideration of my employment and/or continued employment with XL Hybrids, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, or assigns (collectively, the Company), and my receipt of any compensation now and/or hereafter paid to me by the Company, I have executed this Confidentiality and Covenants Agreement (this Agreement).
I recognize and acknowledge that the Company is engaged in activities that involve, and continue to involve, the use of proprietary business plans, methods, and technologies developed through the expenditure of substantial amounts of skill, time, and money. As a result of such investments, the Company has developed certain Trade Secrets and Confidential Information which give the Company significant advantages over its competitors. Due to the nature of my employment with the Company, I may have frequent direct and indirect contact with various customers of the Company and may be presented with, have access to, and/or participate in the development of Trade Secrets and Confidential Information. These constitute valuable, special, and unique assets of the Company, the misuse, misapplication, or disclosure of which contrary to the terms of this Agreement may cause substantial loss of competitive advantage and substantial and possibly irreparable damage to the business and asset value of the Company.
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I have executed this Agreement on the date set forth below, to be deemed effective at the earlier to occur of the commencement of my employment relationship with the Company or upon my initial possession, knowledge, or acquisition of any of the Companys Trade Secrets or Confidential Information; provided, however, that if the latter date is vague or indeterminable, this Agreement shall be deemed effective as of the commencement of my employment relationship with the Company.
AGREED AND ACCEPTED: | ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED: | |||||
Print Name: | COMPANY: XL HYBRIDS, INC. | |||||
Signature: | /s/ Dimitri Kazarinoff | By: | /s/ Paul J. Crivello | |||
Dimitri Kazarinoff | Paul J. Crivello | |||||
Date: | 9/30/2019 | Date: | 10/10/2019 |
145 Newton St. Boston, MA 02135 P ###-###-####