Employment Agreement dated April 1, 2022, by and between Primoris Services Corporation and
Exhibit 10.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
Primoris Services Corporation
AND
Ken M. Dodgen
April 1, 2022
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Primoris Services Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Employer”), and Ken M. Dodgen (the “Employee”) and supersedes and replaces in its entirety that certain employment agreement dated as of May 22, 2017 between the Employer and the Employee (the “Prior Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Employer desires to continue to employ the Employee, and the Employee desires to accept such continued employment, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.
Generally, defined terms used in this Agreement are defined in the first instance in which they appear herein. In addition, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings:
The Employer shall employ the Employee, and the Employee accepts employment with the Employer, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 5 (the “Employment Period”).
During the Employment Period, the Employee shall serve as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Employer’s Chief Executive Officer, and shall have the usual and customary duties, responsibilities and authority of such position. In addition, during the Employment Period, if elected or appointed thereto, the Employee shall serve as an officer and/or member of the board of any Affiliate of Employer as reasonably requested by the Employer and its Affiliates, in each case, without additional compensation hereunder. The Employee hereby accepts such employment and positions and agrees to diligently and conscientiously devote his full and exclusive business time, attention, and best efforts in discharging and fulfilling his duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Employee shall comply with the Employer’s policies and procedures and the direction and instruction of the Board and the Employee shall not engage in any business activity which, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, conflicts with the duties of the Employee hereunder, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 3 shall prohibit or restrict Employee from (a) engaging in or holding any passive investment, including any equity interest, in any business activity as specified in Section 12(b), and (b) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 12, and subject to the consent of the Board, serving as a member of a board of directors of any other publicly held, or private company.
The Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be terminated upon the earliest to occur of the following events:
The Employer may, for its own benefit, maintain “key man” life and disability insurance policies covering the Employee. The Employee will cooperate with Employer and provide such information or other assistance as they may reasonably request in connection with obtaining and maintaining such policies.
During the term of this Agreement, the Employee will not accept or perform any work, consulting, or other services for any other business entity or for remuneration of any kind, without written approval by the Board.
The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that all personal property and equipment furnished to or prepared by the Employee in the course of or incident to his employment hereunder belongs to the Employer and shall be promptly returned to the Employer upon termination of the Employee’s employment. The term “personal property” includes all office equipment, laptop computers, cell phones, books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, requests for proposals, bids, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files), and all other proprietary and non-proprietary information relating to the business of any member of the Company Group. Following termination of his employment hereunder, the Employee will not retain any written or other tangible material containing any proprietary or non-proprietary information of any member of the Company Group, without the express written consent of the Employer.
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that his employment with the Employer involves building and maintaining business relationships and good will on behalf of the Employer with customers, and other professional contractors, subcontractors, employees and staff, and various providers and users of services related to the Employer’s business; that the Employee is entrusted with proprietary, strategic and other Confidential Information which is of special value to Employer; and that the foregoing matters are significant interests which the Employer is entitled to protect.
In the event that the Employer terminates this Agreement and the Employee’ s employment hereunder for “Cause,” but it subsequently is determined by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that the Employer did not have Cause for the termination, then for
purposes of this Agreement, the Employer’ s decision to terminate shall be deemed to have been a termination without Cause, and the Employer shall be obligated to pay the Severance Benefits or the CIC Severance Benefits, as applicable, and only that amount.
Any controversy or dispute arising out of, based upon, or relating to this Agreement, its enforcement or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of its provisions, or arising out of, based upon, or relating in any way to the Employee’s employment or association with the Employer, or termination of the same, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any questions regarding whether a particular dispute is arbitrable, and any alleged violation of statute, common law or public policy, including any state or federal statutory claims, shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration in Dallas County, Texas, in accordance with the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures, before a single neutral arbitrator selected from the JAMS panel, or if JAMS is no longer able to supply the arbitrator, such arbitrator shall be selected from the American Arbitration Association, in accordance with its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes (the arbitrator selected hereunder, the “Arbitrator”). Notwithstanding the provision in this Agreement with respect to applicable substantive law, any arbitration conducted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C., Secs. 1-16). Provisional injunctive relief may, but need not, be sought by either party to this Agreement in a court of law while arbitration proceedings are pending, and any provisional injunctive relief granted by such court shall remain effective until the matter is finally determined by the Arbitrator. Final resolution of any dispute through arbitration may include any remedy or relief which the Arbitrator deems just and equitable, including any and all remedies provided by applicable state or federal statutes. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the Arbitrator shall issue a written decision that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions upon which the Arbitrator’s award or decision is based. Any award or relief granted by the Arbitrator hereunder shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties acknowledge and agree that they are hereby waiving any rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either of the parties against the other in connection with any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Agreement or the provision of services under this Agreement. The Employer will pay the Arbitrator’s fees and arbitration expenses and any other costs associated with the arbitration or arbitration hearing that are unique to arbitration. Subject to the provisions of Section 25, the parties shall each pay their own deposition, witness, expert and attorneys’ fees and other expenses as and to the same extent as if the matter were being heard in court.
The Employee represents and warrants that the Employee is under no contractual or other obligation that would prevent the Employee from accepting the Employer’s offer of employment as set forth herein.
This Agreement is intended by the parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of the Employee by the Employer and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous agreement (including the Prior Agreement and any term sheet or similar agreement entered into between the Employer and the Employee). The parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.
No Person has made or has the authority to make any representations or promises on behalf of any of the parties which are inconsistent with the representations or promises contained in this Agreement, and this Agreement has not been executed in reliance on any representations or promises not set forth herein. Specifically, no promises, warranties or representations have been made by anyone on any topic or subject matter related to the Employee’s relationship with the Employer or any of their executives or employees, including any promises, warranties or representations regarding future employment, compensation, benefits, any entitlement to equity interests in the Employer or regarding the termination of the Employee’ s employment. In this regard, the Employee agrees that no promises, warranties or representations shall be deemed to be made in the future unless they are set forth in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the Employer.
This Agreement may be modified only by agreement of the parties by a written instrument executed by the parties that is designated as an amendment to this Agreement.
Any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) which is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction and subject to this Section 19, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions thereof in such jurisdiction or rendering such provision or any other provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. If any covenant should be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable because its scope is considered excessive, such covenant shall be modified so that the scope of the covenant is reduced only to the minimum extent necessary to render the modified covenant valid, legal and enforceable. No waiver of any provision or violation of this Agreement by the Employer shall be implied by the Employer’s forbearance or failure to take action. The expiration or termination of the Employment Period and this Agreement shall not impair the rights or obligations of any party hereto which shall have accrued hereunder prior to such expiration or termination.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, provided,
however, that the Employee may not assign any or all of his rights or duties hereunder except following the prior written consent of the Employer. The Employee shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder following the Employee’ s death by giving written notice thereof. In the event of the Employee’s death or a judicial determination of his incompetence, references in this Agreement to the Employee shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to his beneficiary, estate or other legal representative.
The Employee represents and warrants that the Employee has read and understands each and every provision of this Agreement and has freely and voluntarily entered into this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed as to its validity and effect by the laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
All notices and other communications necessary or contemplated under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered in the manner specified herein or, in the absence of such specification, shall be deemed delivered when delivered in person or sent by first-class mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid), facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:
26000 Commercentre Dr.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
Facsimile: (949) 595-5544
or to such other address as the recipient party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith.
In the event that any dispute between the parties should result in litigation or arbitration, the prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable fees, costs and expenses of enforcing any right of the prevailing party, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, all of which shall be deemed to have accrued upon the
commencement of such action and shall be paid whether or not such action is prosecuted to judgment. Any judgment or order entered in such action shall contain a specific provision providing for the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in enforcing such judgment and an award of prejudgment interest from the date of the breach at the maximum rate of interest allowed by law. For the purposes of this Section 25: (a) attorneys’ fees shall include fees incurred in the following: (i) post judgment motions; (ii) contempt proceedings; (iii) garnishment, levy, and debtor and third party examinations; (iv) discovery and (v) bankruptcy litigation and (b) “ prevailing party” shall mean the party who is determined in the proceeding to have prevailed or who prevails by dismissal, default or otherwise.
Descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural and vice-versa. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and other compounds of the word “here” shall refer to the entire Agreement and not to any particular provision hereof. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “or” as used herein is not exclusive and is deemed to have the meaning “and/or.” Unless the context requires otherwise, all references herein to a law, agreement, instrument or other document shall be deemed to refer to such law, agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented, modified and restated from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed against any party, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. This Agreement has been reviewed by each of the parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of the parties hereto.
The parties acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Employer determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be immediately taxable to the Employee under Section 409A, the Employer may (a) adopt such amendments to this Agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Employer determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by this Agreement or (b) take such other actions as the Employer determines necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of the Section 409A, and references herein to the Employee’s “termination of employment” shall refer to the Employee’s separation from service with the Employer within the meaning of Section 409A. To the extent any
reimbursements or in-kind benefits due to the Employee under this Agreement constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any such reimbursements or in-kind benefits shall be paid to the Employee in a manner consistent with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).
To the extent that the exemption under Section 280G(b)(5) of the Code is unavailable at the time of a Change in Control because any Employer stock is readily tradeable on an established securities market or otherwise, if it is determined by a nationally recognized U.S. public accounting firm selected by the Employer that any payment or benefit in the nature of compensation made or provided to the Employee in connection with the Employee’s employment with the Employer (collectively, “Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Parachute Tax”), then the Employee will be entitled to receive either (a) the full amount of the Payments, or (b) a portion of the Payments having a value equal to $1 less than three times the Employee’s “base amount” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(3)(A) of the Code), whichever of clauses (a) and (b), after taking into account applicable federal, state, and local income and employment taxes and the Parachute Tax, results in the receipt by the Employee on an after-tax basis, of the greatest portion of the Payments.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT EMPLOYEE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK AND ENGAGE LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF HIS OWN CHOOSING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.
Primoris Services Corporation
By:/s/ Tom McCormick___________________
Name:Tom McCormick _____________________
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer_____
/s/ Ken Dodgen____ ____
Ken M. Dodgen, individually
EXHIBIT A
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