EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (J. Cabell Acree III)
Exhibit 10.20
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ III)
(J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ III)
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 13, 2007 (this “Agreement”), is by and between
Orion Marine Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ III (“Key
Employee”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company has identified you as a Key Employee who is an integral part of the
Company’s operation and management;
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes your efforts as a Key Employee and desires to reward those
efforts to protect and enhance the best interests of the Company; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and
agreements set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 Definitions.
(a) “Base Salary” means the Key Employee’s weekly base salary described in Section
2.3(a).
(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “Cause” means:
(i) A material breach by Key Employee of Section 3.8 of this Agreement (regarding the
noncompetition and confidentiality provisions);
(ii) The commission of a criminal act by Key Employee against the Company, including but not
limited to fraud, embezzlement or theft;
(iii) The conviction, plea of no contest or nolo contendere, deferred adjudication or
unadjudicated probation of Key Employee for any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or
(iv) Key Employee’s failure or refusal to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect,
any lawful directive of the Board consistent with the terms of the Agreement which is not remedied
within 30 days after Key Employee’s receipt of written notice from the Company.
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(d) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) A “change in the ownership of the Company” which will occur on the date that any one
person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock in the Company that,
together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair
market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; however, if any one person or more
than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market
value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the
same person or persons will not be considered a “change in the ownership of the Company” (or to
cause a “change in the effective control of the Company” within the meaning of Section
1.1(d)(ii) below) and an increase of the effective percentage of stock owned by any one person,
or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock
in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph;
provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Section
1.1(d)(i), the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any entity controlled by the Company or (B) any acquisition by investors (immediately prior to
such acquisition) in the Company for financing purposes, as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion. This Section 1.1(d)(i) applies only when there is a transfer of the stock of
the Company (or issuance of stock) and stock in the Company remains outstanding after the
transaction.
(ii) A “change in the effective control of the Company” which will occur on the date that
either (A) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired
during the 12 month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or
persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 35% or more of the total voting power of the
stock of the Company, except for (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company or (z) any
acquisition by investors (immediately prior to such acquisition) in the Company for financing
purposes, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or (B) a majority of the members of
the Board are replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not
endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or
election. For purposes of a “change in the effective control of the Company,” if any one person,
or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company within
the meaning of this Section 1.1(d)(ii), the acquisition of additional control of the
Company by the same person or persons is not considered a “change in the effective control of the
Company,” or to cause a “change in the ownership of the Company” within the meaning of Section
1.1(d)(i) above.
(iii) A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” which will
occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has
acquired during the 12 month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such
person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more
than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company immediately prior to
such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the
assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being
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disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. Any
transfer of assets to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Company immediately
after the transfer, as provided in guidance issued pursuant to the Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Rules, will not constitute a Change in Control.
For purposes of this Section 1.1(d), the provisions of section 318(a) of the Code
regarding the constructive ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership;
provided, that stock underlying unvested options (including options exercisable for stock
that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds the
option. In addition, for purposes of this Section 1.1(d) and except as otherwise provided
in an Award agreement, “Company” includes (x) the Company; (y) the entity for whom the Key Employee
performs services; and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair
market value and total voting power (a “Majority Shareholder”) of the Company or the entity
identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in which each entity is a
Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in the Company or the entity identified
in (y) above.
(e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) “Disability” means a Key Employee’s disability within the meaning of the Company’s
long-term disability plan. In the event of a dispute between the parties as to whether the Key
Employee is disabled, whether Key Employee is disabled will be determined by the mutual agreement
of a physician selected by the Company or its insurers (the “Company Physician”) and a physician
selected by Key Employee (“Key Employee’s Physician”). In the event that the Company Physician and
Key Employee’s Physician cannot agree on whether Key Employee is Disabled, such determination will
be made by a third physician who is jointly selected by the Company Physician and Key Employee’s
Physician.
(g) “Good Reason” means:
(i) a substantial reduction of Key Employee’s Base Salary without Key Employee’s consent,
(ii) a substantial reduction of Key Employee’s duties (without the Key Employee’s consent)
from those in effect as of the Effective Date or as subsequently agreed to by Key Employee and the
Company, or
(iii) the relocation of the Key Employee’s primary work site to a location greater than 50
miles from the Key Employee’s work site as of the Effective Date.
(h) “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules” means the limitations or requirements of
section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(i) “Protection Period” means the period beginning on the date that is three months prior to
the occurrence of a Change in Control and ending 12 months following the occurrence of a Change in
Control.
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(j) “Severance Pay” means
(i) six months of Key Employee’s Base Salary as of the date of his termination of employment
payable on account of a termination Without Cause or a termination by Key Employee for Good Reason
not related to a Change in Control or not during the Protection Period; and
(ii) two times Key Employee’s annual Base Salary as of the date of his termination of
employment on account of a termination Without Cause or a termination by Key Employee for Good
Reason during the Protection Period that is related to a Change in Control.
(k) “Severance Period” means:
(i) six months with respect to Severance Pay payable on account of a termination Without Cause
or a termination by Key Employee for Good Reason not related to a Change in Control or not during
the Protection Period; and
(ii) two years with respect to Severance Pay payable on account of a termination Without Cause
or a termination by Key Employee for Good Reason during the Protection Period that is related to a
Change in Control.
(l) “Without Cause” means termination by the Company of Key Employee’s employment at the
Company’s sole discretion for any reason, other than by reason of Key Employee’s death or
Disability, and other than a termination based upon Cause.
1.2 Interpretations. In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears,
(a) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; (b) reference
to any Article or Section, means such Article or Section hereof; and (c) the word “including” (and
with correlative meaning “include”) means including, without limiting the generality of any
description preceding such term.
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
2.1 Term. The term of this Agreement will be two years commencing on the Effective
Date of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”). The Agreement may be extended for an additional
period at the end of the Initial Term (“Renewal Term”) upon the mutual agreement of the parties
entered into at least 30 days prior to the end of the Initial Term.
2.2 Position, Duties and Services. The Key Employee will have such duties and powers
as will be determined from time to time by the Board consistent therewith. The Key Employee will
perform diligently and to the best of his abilities such duties. The Key Employee’s employment
will be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board.
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2.3 Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. Key Employee will receive an initial Base Salary at the rate of
$225,000 per annum payable in periodic installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices and procedures, which base salary may be modified by the Company from time to time.
(b) Bonuses and Perquisites. During the Employment Period, Key Employee will be
entitled to bonuses and perquisites as determined by the Board in its discretion.
(c) Incentive, Savings, Profit Sharing, and Retirement Plans. During the Employment
Period, Key Employee will be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings, profit sharing and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally, from time to time, to
other similarly situated employees of the Company.
(d) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Term, Key Employee and/or Key
Employee’s family, as the case may be, will be eligible for participation in and will receive all
benefits under the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally,
from time to time, to other similarly situated employees of the Company.
2.4 Severance Benefit. Key Employee will be entitled to receive the severance
benefits described in ARTICLE III upon his termination of employment during the term of
this Agreement described in Section 2.1 provided he satisfies the requirements outlined in
ARTICLE III.
ARTICLE III
EARLY TERMINATION
EARLY TERMINATION
3.1 Death. Upon the death of Key Employee during the Employment Period, the Agreement
will terminate and Key Employee’s estate will be entitled to payment of his Base Salary through the
date of such termination plus any benefits accrued up to the date of his death payable pursuant to
the terms of the benefit plans specified in Section 2.3 in which Key Employee is a
participant.
3.2 Disability. In the event of Key Employee’s Disability during the term of this
Agreement described in Section 2.1, the Company may terminate Key Employee’s employment in
which case this Agreement will terminate and Key Employee will be entitled to payment of the
following benefits: (a) his Base Salary through the date of such termination; (b) long-term
disability benefits pursuant to the terms of any long-term disability policy provided to similarly
situated employees of the Company in which Key Employee has elected to participate; and (c) payment
of any benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the benefit plans specified in Section 2.3
in which Key Employee is a participant.
3.3 Termination for Cause or Voluntary Resignation by Key Employee. If Key Employee’s
employment is terminated during the term of this Agreement for Cause, or Key Employee voluntarily
resigns from the employment of the Company without Good Reason, the Company will pay Key Employee
through the date of termination (a) his Base Salary in effect at
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the time notice of termination is given and (b) payment of any benefits payable pursuant to
the terms of the benefit plans specified in Section 2.3 in which Key Employee is a
participant.
3.4 Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason Unrelated to a Change in Control.
If, during the term of this Agreement as described in Section 2.1, the Key Employee’s
employment is terminated by the Company Without Cause or Key Employee terminates his employment
with the Company for Good Reason, that is unrelated to a Change in Control or is not during the
Protection Period, he will be entitled to (a) his unpaid Base Salary through the date of
termination; (b) payment of any benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the benefit plans
specified in Section 2.3 in which Key Employee is a participant; and (c) Severance Pay over
the course of the Severance Period. Such Severance Pay will be paid pursuant to the Company’s
normal payroll practices.
3.5 Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason Related to a Change in Control. If
Key Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company Without Cause or Key Employee terminates his
employment with the Company for Good Reason during the Protection Period in connection with a
Change in Control he will be entitled to (a) his unpaid Base Salary through the date of
termination; (b) payment of any benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the benefit plans
specified in Section 2.3 in which Key Employee is a participant; and (c) Severance Pay over
the course of the Severance Period. Such severance pay will be paid pursuant to the Company’s
normal payroll practices.
3.6 Termination of Company’s Obligations. Upon termination of Key Employee’s
employment for any reason, the Company’s obligations under this Agreement will terminate and Key
Employee will be entitled to no compensation and benefits other than that provided in this
ARTICLE III. Notwithstanding such termination, the parties’ obligations under Section
3.8 of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.
3.7 Release. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.7,
Key Employee will be entitled to the additional benefits specified in Section 3.4
(regarding termination Without Cause or for Good Reason unrelated to a Change in Control) and
Section 3.5 (regarding termination Without Cause or for Good Reason related to a Change in
Control) (i.e., those in addition to the payment of his Base Salary through the date of termination
and any benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the benefit plans specified in Section
2.3 in which Key Employee is a participant), only upon his execution (and non-revocation) of a
waiver and release of all claims in a form acceptable to the Company.
3.8 Non-Competition, Confidentiality.
(a) Agreement not to Compete. In consideration of the Company’s promise to provide
Key Employee with Confidential Information, as defined in Section 3.8(b), the other mutual
promises contained in this Agreement, and Key Employee’s employment with the Company, and so as to
enforce Key Employee’s promises regarding Confidential Information contained in Section
3.8(b) of this Agreement, Key Employee agrees that in the event his employment with the Company
is terminated for any reason whatsoever, Key Employee will not, during the Severance Period
(extended by any period of time during which Key Employee is in violation of this Section
3.8), directly or indirectly, carry on or conduct, in competition with the
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Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, any business of the nature in which the Company or
its subsidiaries or affiliates are then engaged in any geographical area in which the Company or
its subsidiaries or affiliates engage in business at the time of such termination or in which any
of them, prior to termination of Key Employee’s employment, evidenced in writing, at any time
during the six month period prior to such termination, an intention to engage in such business.
Key Employee agrees that he will not so conduct or engage in any such business either as an
individual on his own account or as a partner or joint venturer or as an Key Employee, agent,
consultant or salesman for any other person or entity, or as an officer or director of a
corporation or as a shareholder in a corporation of which he will then own 10% or more of any class
of stock.
(b) Confidential Information. The Company makes a binding promise not conditioned
upon continued employment to provide Key Employee with certain Confidential Information above and
beyond any Confidential Information Key Employee may have previously received. Key Employee will
not, directly or indirectly, at any time following termination of his employment with the Company,
reveal, divulge or make known to any person or entity, or use for Key Employee’s personal benefit
(including, without limitation, for the purpose of soliciting business, whether or not competitive
with any business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), any information
acquired during the Employment Period with regard to the financial, business or other affairs of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, any list or
record of persons or entities with which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates has
any dealings), other than (i) information already in the public domain; (ii) information of a type
not considered confidential by persons engaged in the same business or a business similar to that
conducted by the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates; or (iii) information that Key Employee
is required to disclose under the following circumstances: (A) at the express direction of any
authorized governmental entity; (B) pursuant to a subpoena or other court process; (C) as otherwise
required by law or the rules, regulations, or orders of any applicable regulatory body; or (D) as
otherwise necessary, in the opinion of counsel for Key Employee, to be disclosed by Key Employee in
connection with any legal action or proceeding involving Key Employee and the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in his capacity as an employee, officer, director, or
stockholder of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. Key Employee will, at
any time requested by the Company (either during or within two years after his employment with the
Company), promptly deliver to the Company all memoranda, notes, reports, lists and other documents
(and all copies thereof) relating to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
affiliates which he may then possess or have under his control.
(c) Reasonableness of Restrictions. Key Employee acknowledges that the geographic
boundaries, scope of prohibited activities, and time duration set forth in this Section 3.8
are reasonable in nature and are no broader than are necessary to maintain the confidentiality and
the goodwill of the Company and the confidentiality of its Confidential Information and to protect
the legitimate business interests of the Company, and that the enforcement of such provisions would
not cause Key Employee any undue hardship nor unreasonably interfere with Key Employee’s ability to
earn a livelihood. If any court determines that any portion of this Section 3.8 is invalid
or unenforceable, the remainder of this Section 3.8 will not thereby be affected and will
be given full effect without regard to the invalid provisions. If any court construes any of the
provisions of this Section 3.8, or any part thereof, to be
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unreasonable because of the duration or scope of such provision, such court will have the power to reduce
the duration or scope of such provision and to enforce such provision as so reduced.
(d) Enforcement. Upon Key Employee’s employment with an entity that is not a
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company (a “Successor Employer”) during the period that the
provisions of this Section 3.8 remain in effect, Key Employee will provide such Successor
Employer with a copy of this Agreement and will notify the Company of such employment within 30
days thereof. Key Employee agrees that in the event of a breach of the terms and conditions of
this Section 3.8 by Key Employee, the Company will be entitled, if it so elects, to
institute and prosecute proceedings, either in law or in equity, against Key Employee, to obtain
damages for any such breach, or to enjoin Key Employee from any conduct in violation of this
Section 3.8.
3.9 Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
if Key Employee is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in section 280G(c) of the Code), and the
benefits provided for in this ARTICLE III, together with any other payments and benefits
which Key Employee has the right to receive from the Company would constitute a “parachute payment”
(as defined in section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the benefits provided hereunder (beginning
with any benefit to be paid in cash hereunder) will be reduced (but not below zero) so that the
present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Key Employee will be $1.00) less than
three times Key Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that
no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Key Employee will be subject to the excise tax
imposed by section 4999 of the Code. The determination as to whether such a reduction in the
amount of the benefits provided hereunder is necessary will be made by the Board in good faith. If
a reduced cash payment is made and through error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated with
other payments and benefits from the Company used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists,
exceeds $1.00 less than three times the Key Employee’s base amount, then Key Employee will
immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made.
Nothing in this Section 3.9 will require the Company to be responsible for, or have any
liability or obligation with respect to, Key Employee’s excise tax liabilities under section 4999
of the Code.
3.10 Payments Subject to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this ARTICLE III, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance
benefits under this ARTICLE III would be subject to additional taxes and interest under
section 409A of the Code because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in section
409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any such payments that Key Employee would otherwise be entitled to
during the first six months following the date of Key Employee’s termination of employment will be
accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after the date of Key Employee’s termination of
employment (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next
following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid
under section 409A of the Code without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
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ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the conflicts of law principles of such
State.
4.2 Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified
or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Key Employee, and no course of
conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement will be construed as a
waiver of such provisions or affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this
Agreement or any provision hereof.
4.3 Severability. Any provision in this Agreement which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law will, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or
affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
4.4 Entire Agreement. Except as provided in the written benefit plans and programs
referenced in Section 2.3(c) and Section 2.3(d), this Agreement embodies the
complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
4.5 Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions. The Company may withhold from
any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city, and other taxes
as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other normal
employee deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
4.6 Headings. The paragraph headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience
and will not be used for interpretive purposes.
4.7 Actions by the Board. Any and all determinations or other actions required of the
Board hereunder that relate specifically to Key Employee’s employment by the Company or the terms
and conditions of such employment will be made by the members of the Board other than Key Employee
(if Key Employee is a member of the Board), and Key Employee will not have any right to vote or
decide upon any such matter.
4.8 Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction
will be applied against any party.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set
forth above.
| COMPANY: | ||||||
| ORION MARINE GROUP, INC. | ||||||
| By: | /s/ J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||||
| Name: | J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| KEY EMPLOYEE: | ||||||
| /s/ J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ III | ||||||