UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 26, 2018

 

 

SCHMITT INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Oregon   000-23996   93-1151989

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

2765 N.W. Nicolai Street

Portland, Oregon

  97210-1818
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (503) 227-7908

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR §230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR §240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR §240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR §240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

The information provided below in Item 5.02 relating to executive employment agreements is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b) On November 27, 2018, Schmitt Industries, Inc. (the “Registrant”) announced that David W. Case will step down as Chief Executive Officer and President and will serve as Special Advisor to the Board of Directors through mid-April 2019, effective December 1, 2018.

A copy of the press release that includes the announcement of the above is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

In connection with Mr. Case’s role as Special Advisor, the Registrant and Mr. Case entered into an employment agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Case is entitled to (i) receive an annualized salary of $200,000, (ii) a signing bonus of $20,000, and (iii) certain severance payments in the event Mr. Case’s employment with the Registrant is terminated without cause (as defined) or due to his disability or death.

The foregoing description of the employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the executive employment agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Effective December 1, 2018, Michael J. Ellsworth, Chairman and Director, will retire from the Registrant’s Board of Directors and from all committees of the Registrant.

In connection with Mr. Ellsworth’s resignation, Mr. Ellsworth agreed to provide consulting services to the Registrant for a 3-month period in exchange for, (i) a consulting fee in the amount of $30,000, paid at $10,000 a month, (ii) a grant of 2,000 fully vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in accordance with the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and (iii) all of the options held by Mr. Ellsworth becoming fully vested and exercisable.

(c) Effective December 1, 2018, Michael R. Zapata will serve as Executive Chairman and President. With his appointment as the Registrant’s principal executive officer, Mr. Zapata will no longer earn compensation for his service on the Board and will no longer serve on the Compensation and Nomination Committees of the Board.

Mr. Zapata, age 40, serves as the founding member of Sententia Capital Management, LLC, a value-based investment firm. Previously, he served as a Special Operations Officer in the United States Navy from 2001-2010. Mr. Zapata has an engineering degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Columbia University.

In connection with Mr. Zapata’s appointment, the Registrant entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Zapata, effective December 1, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Zapata will receive a retainer fee of $90,000.

As contemplated by the terms of the agreement, the Registrant will grant Mr. Zapata 48,000 RSUs under the Registrant’s 2014 Plan, which vest in the amounts set forth below on the first date the 15-trading day average closing price of the Registrant’s common stock equals or exceeds the corresponding target price for the common stock (listed below).


Number of RSUs Vested

   Target Price  

6,000

   $ 2.70  

6,000

   $ 2.90  

6,000

   $ 3.10  

6,000

   $ 3.30  

6,000

   $ 3.50  

6,000

   $ 3.70  

6,000

   $ 3.90  

6,000

   $ 4.10  

The number of RSUs and corresponding target price are subject to adjustment for any stock split, combination or similar event.

The RSUs will also vest immediately if any of the following events occur: (i) the Registrant announces its intent to de-register its common stock, (ii) the Registrant commences a self-tender for not less than 33% of its shares at a price greater than or equal to the 15-Day Average Price (as defined in the employment agreement); or (iii) the Registrant completes an extraordinary transaction in which 15% or more of its current outstanding shares were issued.

The foregoing description of the employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the executive employment agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Zapata, Andrew P. Hines, Charles Davidson and David M. Hudson will continue as members of the Board of Directors, with Messrs. Hines and Davidson comprising the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Ellsworth is expected to be filled in the near future.

The Board of Directors has expanded the Strategic Advisory Committee, which now consists of Messrs. Davidson, Hines and Zapata. The Committee will help to assess incoming proposals and advise on the strategic direction of the Registrant.

Pursuant to the Strategic Advisory Committee’s charter, the members will be granted RSUs under the 2014 Plan, which vest in the amounts set forth below on the first date the 15-trading day average closing price of the Registrant’s common stock equals or exceeds the corresponding target price for the common stock (listed below).

 

Number of RSUs Vested

   Target Price  

5,000

   $ 2.70  

2,000

   $ 2.90  

2,000

   $ 3.10  

2,000

   $ 3.30  

2,000

   $ 3.50  

2,000

   $ 3.70  

2,000

   $ 3.90  

2,000

   $ 4.10  

The number of RSUs and corresponding target price are subject to adjustment for any stock split, combination or similar event.

The RSUs will also vest immediately if any of the following events occur: (i) the Registrant announces its intent to de-register its common stock, (ii) the Registrant commences a self-tender for not less than 33% of its shares at a price greater than or equal to the 15-Day Average Price (as defined in the charter); or (iii) the Registrant completes an extraordinary transaction in which 15% or more of its current outstanding shares were issued.

(d) On November 26, 2018, the Registrant entered into an executive employment agreement with Ann M. Ferguson, Chief Financial Officer.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Ms. Ferguson is entitled to (i) receive an annualized salary of $190,000, (ii) a signing bonus of $12,500, (iii) 5,000 RSUs fully vested, and (iv) certain severance payments in the event Ms. Ferguson’s employment with the Registrant is terminated without cause (as defined) or due to her disability or death.

The foregoing description of the employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the executive employment agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

(a) Effective November 30, 2018, the Registrant’s Board of Directors adopted amendments to its Second Restated Bylaws to reflect the creation of the new position of Executive Chairman of the Board and President, such position to be afforded the duties and responsibilities as are typical of the chief executive officer of a corporation and of the chairman of its board of directors. Prior to the amendment, the Second Restated Bylaws authorized only the separate offices of Chairman and President.

This summary of the amendments to the Second Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amendments, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 5.03(a) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(e) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

 

Description

  5.03(a)   Amendment to Second Restated Bylaws.
10.1   Employment Agreement for David W. Case dated November 26, 2018.
10.2   Employment Agreement for Michael R. Zapata dated November 30, 2018.
10.3   Employment Agreement for Ann M. Ferguson dated November 26, 2018.
99.1   Press release entitled “Schmitt Industries Announces Strategic Reorganization.”


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    SCHMITT INDUSTRIES, INC.
November 30, 2018     By:  

/s/ Ann M Ferguson

      Name: Ann M Ferguson
      Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 5.03(a)

Amendment to Second Restated Bylaws

Pursuant to Section 9 of the Second Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) of Schmitt Industries, Inc. (the “Corporation”), the Bylaws of the Corporation are hereby amended as follows:

Section 3.1 of the Bylaws is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, effective as of the date hereof, as follows:

“Officers Enumerated – Appointment. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of such officers and assistant officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors. The officers shall include a President and a Secretary, and may include an Executive Chairman, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and any assistant officers or other officers having such designations as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Board of Directors, the President may appoint any assistant officer or other officers, the Secretary may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries, and the Treasurer may appoint one or more Assistant Treasurers; provided that any such appointments shall be recorded in writing in the corporate records.”

Section 3.3.1 of the Bylaws is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, effective as of the date hereof, as follows:

“Chairman of the Board/Executive Chairman. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and of the shareholders, shall be responsible for carrying out the plans and directives of the Board of Directors, shall report to and consult with the Board of Directors and, if the Board of Directors so resolves, shall have such other powers and duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Executive Chairman, if one is elected, shall have all the powers and duties of both the Chairman of the Board and the President. If the Corporation appoints different persons to serve as Executive Chairman and President, the Executive Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation; otherwise the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation.”

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), by and between Schmitt Industries, Inc., an Oregon corporation (the “Company”), and David W. Case (“Executive”), is entered into this 26 th day of November, 2018, and is effective as of October 16, 2018 (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

A. The Company is engaged primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing and selling high precision test and measurement products for a wide variety of manufacturing, industrial and commercial applications, and Executive has experience in such business.

B. Executive previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and is being appointed to serve as Special Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company.

C. The Company desires to employ Executive, and Executive desires to accept such employment, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms, covenants, and conditions set forth herein and the performance of each, it is hereby agreed as follows:

1. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES .

(a) EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby agrees to act, as Special Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company. As such, Executive shall have responsibilities, duties, and authority reasonably accorded to, expected of, and consistent with Executive’s position and Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Executive hereby accepts this employment upon the terms and conditions herein contained and, subject to Section l(c) hereof, agrees to devote his best efforts and substantially all of his business time and attention to promote and further the business of the Company.

(b) TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of six (6) months from the Effective Date (the “Term”). During the Term, Executive shall faithfully adhere to, execute, and fulfill all lawful policies established by the Company.

(c) OTHER ACTIVITIES. Executive shall not, during the Term, be engaged in any other business activity pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary advantage if such activity interferes in any material respect with Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. The foregoing limitations shall not be construed as prohibiting Executive from (i) making personal investments in such form or manner as will neither require his services in the operation or affairs of the companies or enterprises in which such investments are made nor subject Executive to any conflict of interest with respect to his duties to the Company, (ii) serving on any civic or charitable boards or committees, or (iii) serving, with the written approval of the Board, as a director of one or more corporations, in each case so long as any such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities under this Agreement. In addition, Executive shall comply with the restrictions listed in Section 3 of this Agreement.


(d) PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. Executive shall not be required by the Company or in the performance of his duties to relocate his primary residence.

2. COMPENSATION . For all services rendered by Executive, the Company shall compensate Executive as follows:

(a) BASE SALARY. As of the Effective Date, the base salary payable to Executive shall be Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) per year, payable on a regular basis in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures, but not less than monthly.

(b) BONUS COMPENSATION. Upon execution of this Agreement, Executive shall be paid a signing bonus of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).

(c) EXECUTIVE PERQUISITES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER COMPENSATION. Executive shall be entitled to receive additional benefits and compensation from the Company in such form and to such extent as specified below:

(i) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. The Company shall provide reimbursement to Executive for business travel and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in the performance of his services under this Agreement. All reimbursable expenses shall be appropriately documented in reasonable detail by Executive upon submission of any request for reimbursement and shall be in a format and manner consistent with the Company’s expense reporting policy. Such expenses shall be submitted to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for approval or to such other officer of the Company as the Board may from time to time direct.

(ii) PAID TIME OFF. Paid time off in accordance with the applicable policy of the Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(iii) OTHER EXECUTIVE PERQUISITES. The Company shall provide Executive with other executive perquisites as may be made available to or deemed appropriate for Executive by the Board or a committee of the Board and participation in all other Company-wide employee benefits (including group insurance, pension, retirement, and other plans and programs) as are available to the Company’s executive officers on the date of this Agreement.

3. NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT .

(a) NON-COMPETITION. Executive shall not, during the period of his employment by or with the Company, and during the Non-compete Period (as hereinafter defined) for any reason whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person:

(i) OTHER ACTIVITIES. Engage, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, principal, partner, lender, joint venturer, employee, independent contractor, consultant, advisor, or sales representative, in any Competitive Business within the Restricted Territory;

(ii) SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Call upon any person who is, at that time, within the Restricted Territory, an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in a managerial capacity for the purpose or with the intent of enticing such employee away from or out of the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

(iii) SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. Call upon any person or entity that is, at that time, or that has been, within one (1) year prior to that time, a customer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, within the Restricted Territory for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or services in direct competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries within the Restricted Territory;

 

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(iv) SOLICITATION OF ACQUISITION CANDIDATES. Call upon any prospective acquisition candidate (that is, a business that the Company may have an interest in acquiring), on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any person, which candidate was, to Executive’s knowledge after due inquiry, either called upon by the Company, or for which the Company made an acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such candidate.

(b) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

(i) COMPETITIVE BUSINESS shall mean any Person that is engaged in designing, manufacturing and selling high precision test and measurement products for manufacturing, industrial and commercial applications or any other business in which the Company is engaged;

(ii) PERSON shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, firm, or other business of whatever nature;

(iii) RESTRICTED TERRITORY shall mean North America, Europe and China; and

(iv) SUBSIDIARY shall mean the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and any other business organization in which the Company holds at least a fifty percent (50%) equity interest.

(v) NON-COMPETE PERIOD shall mean the longer of (i) the two (2) year period immediately following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or (ii) the time during which severance payments are being made by the Company to Executive in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Good Cause, Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason, or Executive terminates his employment after a Change in Control pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi)(B), then the Non-compete Period shall be eliminated immediately following the termination of his employment with the Company.

(c) ENFORCEMENT. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company as a result of a breach of the foregoing covenants, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that could be caused to the Company for which it would have no other adequate remedy, Executive agrees that the foregoing covenants may be enforced by the Company in the event of breach by him, by injunctions and restraining orders.

(d) REASONABLE RESTRAINT. It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants in this Section 3 impose a reasonable restraint on Executive in light of the activities and business of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) on the date of the execution of this Agreement and the current plans of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries); but it is also the intent of the Company and Executive that such covenants be construed and enforced in accordance with the changing activities, business, and locations of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) throughout the term of this covenant, whether before or after the date of termination of the employment of Executive. For example, if, during the term of this Agreement, the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) engages in new and different activities, enters a new business, or establishes new locations for its current activities or business in addition to or other than the activities or business enumerated above or the locations currently established therefor, then Executive will be precluded from soliciting the customers or employees of such new activities or business or from such new location and from directly competing with such new business within the Restricted Territory through the term of these covenants.

 

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(e) OTHER ACTIVITIES. It is further agreed by the parties that, in the event that Executive shall cease to be employed hereunder and enters into a business or pursues other activities not in competition with the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries), or similar activities or business in locations, the operation of which, under such circumstances, does not violate this Section 3, and in any event such new business, activities, or location are not in violation of this Section 3 or of Executive’s obligations under this Section 3, if any, Executive shall not be chargeable with a violation of this Section 3 if the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) shall thereafter enter the same, similar, or a competitive (i) business, (ii) course of activities, or (iii) location, as applicable.

(f) SEPARATE COVENANTS. The covenants in this Section 3 are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not affect the provisions of any other covenant. Moreover, in the event any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time, or territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent that the court deems reasonable, and the Agreement shall thereby be reformed.

(g) INDEPENDENT AGREEMENT. All of the covenants in this Section 3 shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants; except as provided in Section 4(d) below. It is specifically agreed that the Non-compete Period following termination of employment as defined in this Section 3, during which the agreements and covenants of Executive made in this Section 3 shall be effective, shall be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Executive is in violation of any provision of this Section 3.

4. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT; TERMINATION; RIGHTS ON TERMINATION .

(a) AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be at-will. The Executive may terminate his employment at any time for any reason (subject to the notice requirements provided in this Agreement) and the Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time and for any reason (subject to the severance provisions of this Agreement). This at-will employment relationship cannot be changed except by written authorization by the Board.

(b) TERMINATION. Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated in any one of the followings ways:

(i) DEATH OF EXECUTIVE. The employment of Executive shall terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. In the event of such termination, all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall thereupon vest and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) notwithstanding the termination of employment. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Executive which, as of the date of the death of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Executive’s death. In addition, Executive’s estate shall be paid severance in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). The payment described in this Section, if payable, will be paid within ten (10) days after the Executive’s death.

 

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(ii) DISABILITY OF EXECUTIVE. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment in the event the Executive is disabled. The Executive shall be disabled if the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determined physical or mental impairment expected to last at least twelve consecutive months or result in death, or if the Executive is determined to be disabled under a Company disability plan with a similar definition of disability. In the event Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated as a result of Executive’s disability, Executive shall receive from the Company, in a lump-sum payment due within ten (10) days of the effective date of termination, an amount equal to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). In the event of such termination, all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall thereupon vest and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A notwithstanding the termination of employment. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Executive which, as of the date of the disability of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Executive’s termination due to disability (as defined in this paragraph).

(iii) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR GOOD CAUSE. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Executive for “Good Cause,” which shall mean any one or more of the following: (A) Executive’s willful and material breach of this Agreement which has not been cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach from the Company; (B) Executive’s gross negligence in the performance or intentional nonperformance (continuing for thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of need to cure) of any of Executive’s material duties and responsibilities hereunder; (C) Executive’s willful dishonesty, fraud, or misconduct with respect to the business or affairs of the Company, which materially and adversely affects the operations or reputation of the Company; (D) Executive’s conviction of a felony crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (E) a confirmed positive illegal drug test result. In the event of a termination by the Company for Good Cause, Executive shall have no right to any severance compensation.

(iv) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE OR BY EXECUTIVE WITH GOOD REASON. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Good Cause upon the approval of a majority of the members of the Board, excluding Executive if Executive is a member of the Board. Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement for Good Reason upon thirty (30) days prior notice to the Company.

(A) RESULT OF TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE OR BY EXECUTIVE WITH GOOD REASON. Should the Company terminate Executive’s employment without Good Cause or should Executive terminate his employment with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive, on a monthly basis, the amounts that otherwise would have been paid to him for the Term had there been no termination of his employment. In addition, if the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Good Cause or Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason, Employee shall be paid severance in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), payable in equal monthly amounts over six (6) months, commencing at the end of the Term. The amounts payable under the preceding two sentences shall commence on the first payroll date following Executive’s “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be treated as a series of separate payments under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Further, if the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Good Cause or Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason, (1) all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall vest thereupon and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full

 

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term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A notwithstanding the termination of employment, (2) all restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by Executive which, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of termination, (3) all restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by Executive which, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, is subject to performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and treated as if the performance conditions for such award had been fully met at target and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of termination, and (4) Executive shall be entitled to receive all other unpaid benefits due and owing through Executive’s last day of employment. Further, any termination by the Company without Good Cause or by Executive for Good Reason shall operate to eliminate the Non-compete Period set forth in Section 3.

(B) DEFINITION OF GOOD REASON. Executive shall have “Good Reason” to terminate employment upon the occurrence of any of the following events, without Executive’s written approval: (1) Executive suffers a material reduction in authority, responsibilities, or duties as provided herein; (2) Executive’s annual base salary as set forth in this Agreement is reduced by any amount; (3) Executive is required to render his or her primary employment services from a location more than 25 miles from the Company’s headquarters at the time Executive began his employment with the Company; (4) the Company takes steps to deny Executive a reasonable opportunity to maintain Executive’s total compensation as set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement; or (5) the Company breaches a material provision of this Agreement. In order for an event to justify termination for Good Reason, the Executive must give written notice to the Company of such event within 90 days of its first occurrence and the Company must have 30 days to cure, if possible.

(v) RESIGNATION BY EXECUTIVE WITHOUT GOOD REASON. Executive may, without cause, and without Good Reason terminate his own employment under this Agreement, effective thirty (30) days after written notice is provided to the Company or such earlier time as any such resignation may be accepted by the Company. If Executive resigns or otherwise terminates his employment without Good Reason, Executive shall receive no severance compensation.

(vi) PAYMENTS UPON EXPIRATION OF THE TERM. At the end of the Term, Employee shall be paid severance in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), payable in equal monthly amounts over six (6) months. The amounts payable under the preceding sentence shall commence on the first payroll date following Executive’s “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be treated as a series of separate payments under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the severance payments set forth in this Section 4(b)(vi) shall not be paid if Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason other than the expiration of the Term because payments to be made in such circumstances are covered in other sections of this Agreement.

(c) PAYMENTS TO TERMINATION DATE. Upon termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement for any reason provided above, Executive shall be entitled to receive all compensation earned and all benefits and reimbursements due through the effective date of termination. Additional compensation subsequent to termination, if any, will be due and payable to Executive only to the extent and in the manner expressly provided above. All other rights and obligations of the Company and Executive under this Agreement shall cease as of the effective date of termination, except that the Company’s obligations under Section 8 (relating to indemnification of Executive) and Executive’s obligations under Section 3 (relating to non-competition), Section 5 (relating to return of Company property), Section 6 (relating to inventions), Section 7 (relating to trade secrets), and Section 9 (relating to prior agreements) shall survive such termination in accordance with their terms.

 

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(d) FAILURE TO PAY EXECUTIVE. If termination of Executive’s employment arises out of the Company’s failure to pay Executive on a timely basis the amounts to which he is entitled under this Agreement or as a result of any other breach of this Agreement by the Company, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to the provisions of Section 14, the Company shall pay all amounts and damages to which Executive may be entitled as a result of such breach, including interest thereon and all reasonable legal fees and expenses and other costs incurred by Executive to enforce his rights hereunder. Further, none of the provisions of Section 3 (relating to non-competition) shall apply in the event Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated as a result of a breach by the Company.

(e) CONDITIONS PRECEDENT FOR PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE. In consideration for Company’s obligations to make any payments to Executive pursuant to Section 4, upon termination of Executive’s employment with Company for any reason other than Executive’s death, Executive shall sign and not revoke a release in a form satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”). Company shall present the Release to Executive within ten (10) days of termination, and Executive shall have up to forty-five (45) days to consider whether to sign the Release; in the event Executive executes the Release, Executive shall have an additional eight (8) calendar days in which to expressly revoke Executive’s execution of the Release in writing. In the event that Executive fails to execute the Release within the forty-five (45) days following termination, or in the event Executive formally revokes the Executive’s Release within eight (8) calendar days of his signing of the Release, then Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company shall make any payments to Executive in accordance with the terms of Section 4 prior to Executive’s failure to execute the Release within forty-five (45) days or prior to his revocation; provided that if Executive does not sign the Release or if Executive revokes the Release during any statutory revocation period, Executive shall immediately reimburse Company for any and all such payments.

(f) DELAY IN SEVERANCE PAYMENTS. To the extent required under Section 409A, any severance payments due under this Section 4 shall be delayed until the first date such payment may be made in compliance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B).

5. RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY . All records, designs, patents, business plans, financial statements, manuals, memoranda, lists, and other property delivered to or compiled by Executive by or on behalf of the Company (or its subsidiaries) or its representatives, vendors, or customers that pertain to the business of the Company (or its subsidiaries) shall be and remain the property of the Company and be subject at all times to its discretion and control. Likewise, all correspondence, reports, records, charts, advertising materials, and other similar data pertaining to the business, activities, or future plans of the Company (or its subsidiaries) that is collected by Executive shall be delivered promptly to the Company without request by it upon termination of Executive’s employment.

6. INVENTIONS . Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all significant conceptions and ideas for inventions, improvements, and valuable discoveries, whether patentable or not, which are conceived or made by Executive, solely or jointly with another, during the period of employment or within one (1) year thereafter, and which are directly related to the business or activities of the Company (or its subsidiaries) and which Executive conceives as a result of his employment by the Company. Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all his interests therein to the Company or its nominee. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments, and other instruments that the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Company’s interest therein.

 

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7. TRADE SECRETS . Executive agrees that he will not, during or after the period of employment under this Agreement, disclose the specific terms of the Company’s relationships or agreements with its respective significant vendors or customers, or any other significant and material trade secret of the Company, whether in existence or proposed, to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or business for any reason or purpose whatsoever.

8. INDEMNIFICATION . In the event Executive is made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by the Company against Executive), by reason of the fact that he is or was performing services under this Agreement, then the Company shall indemnify Executive against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, as actually and reasonably incurred by Executive in connection therewith to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, the Executive must deliver a written undertaking to the Company that if it is subsequently determined by a court of law in a final, non-appealable judgment, that the Executive was not entitled to indemnification under applicable law, then the Executive will repay all amounts. The advancement of expenses shall be mandatory. In the event that both Executive and the Company are made a party to the same third-party action, complaint, suit, or proceeding, the Company agrees to engage competent legal representation, and Executive agrees to use the same representation, provided that if counsel selected by the Company shall have a conflict of interest that prevents such counsel from representing Executive, Executive may engage separate counsel and the Company shall pay all attorneys’ fees of such separate counsel. Further, while Executive is expected at all times to use his best efforts to faithfully discharge his duties under this Agreement, Executive cannot be held liable to the Company for errors or omissions made in good faith if Executive has not exhibited gross, willful, and wanton negligence and misconduct or performed criminal and fraudulent acts that materially damage the business of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 8, the provision of any written indemnification agreement applicable to the directors or officers of the Company to which Executive shall be a party shall apply rather than this Section 8 to the extent inconsistent with this Section 8.

9. NO PRIOR AGREEMENTS . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the execution of this Agreement by Executive and his employment by the Company and the performance of his duties hereunder will not violate or be a breach of any agreement with a former employer, client, or any other person or entity. Further, Executive agrees to indemnify the Company for any claim, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses of investigation, by any such third party that such third party may now have or may hereafter come to have against the Company based upon or arising out of any non-competition, invention, or secrecy agreement between Executive and such third party that was in existence as of the date of this Agreement.

10. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT . Executive understands that he is being employed by the Company on the basis of his personal qualifications, experience, and skills. Executive agrees, therefore, that he cannot assign all or any portion of his performance under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding two (2) sentences and the express provisions of Section 11 below, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

11. COMPLETE AGREEMENT . This Agreement is not a promise of future employment. Executive has no oral representations, understandings, or agreements with the Company or any of its officers, directors, or representatives covering the same subject matter as this Agreement. This written Agreement is the final, complete, and exclusive statement and expression of the agreement between the Company and Executive and of all the terms of this Agreement, and it cannot be varied, contradicted, or supplemented by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements. This written Agreement may not be later modified except by a further writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and Executive, and no term of this Agreement may be waived except by writing signed by the party waiving the benefit of such term. This Agreement hereby supersedes any other employment agreements or understandings, written or oral, between the Company and Executive.

 

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12. NOTICE . Whenever any notice is required hereunder, it shall be given in writing addressed as follows:

 

To the Company:

  

Schmitt Industries, Inc.

  

2765 NW Nicolai Street

  

Portland, Oregon 97210

  

Attention: Executive Chairman

With a copy to:

  

Holland & Knight LLP

  

2300 U.S. Bancorp Tower

111 SW Fifth Avenue

  

Portland, Oregon 97204

  

Attention: Mark von Bergen, Esq.

To Executive:

  

David W. Case

  

2765 NW Nicolai Street

  

Portland, Oregon 97210

Notice shall be deemed given and effective when hand delivered or the first business day after being deposited with a reputable, nationally recognized overnight delivery service or when actually received. Either party may change the address for notice by notifying the other party of such change in accordance with this Section 12.

13. SEVERABILITY; HEADINGS . If any portion of this Agreement is held invalid or inoperative, the other portions of this Agreement shall be deemed valid and operative and, so far as is reasonable and possible, effect shall be given to the intent manifested by the portion held invalid or inoperative. The Section headings herein are for reference purposes only and are not intended in any way to describe, interpret, define or limit the extent or intent of the Agreement or of any part hereof.

14. MEDIATION/ARBITRATION . All disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be resolved as set forth in this Section 14. If any party hereto desires to make any claim arising out of this Agreement (“Claimant”), then such party shall first deliver to the other party (“Respondent”) written notice (“Claim Notice”) of Claimant’s intent to make such claim explaining Claimant’s reasons for such claim in sufficient detail for Respondent to respond. Respondent shall have ten (10) business days from the date the Claim Notice was given to Respondent to object in writing to the claim (“Notice of Objection”), or otherwise cure any breach hereof alleged in the Claim Notice. Any Notice of Objection shall specify with particularity the reasons for such objection. Following receipt of the Notice of Objection, if any, Claimant and Respondent shall immediately seek to resolve by good faith negotiations the dispute alleged in the Claim Notice, and may, at the request of either party, utilize the services of an independent mediator. If Claimant and Respondent are unable to resolve the dispute in writing within ten (10) business days from the date negotiations began, then without the necessity of further agreement of Claimant or Respondent, the dispute set forth in the Claim Notice shall be submitted to binding arbitration (except for claims arising out of Sections 3 or 7 hereof), initiated by either Claimant or Respondent pursuant to this Section. Such arbitration shall be conducted before a panel of three (3) arbitrators in Portland, Oregon, in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) then in effect, provided that the parties may agree to use arbitrators other than those provided by the AAA. The arbitrators shall not have the authority to add to, detract from,

 

9


or modify any provision hereof nor to award punitive damages to any injured party. The arbitrators shall have the authority to order back-pay, severance compensation, vesting of options (or cash compensation in lieu of vesting of options), vesting and the removal of restrictions on restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) that, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, reimbursement of costs, including those incurred to enforce this Agreement, and interest thereon in the event the arbitrators determine that Executive was terminated without disability or without Good Cause, as defined in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) hereof, respectively, or that the Company has otherwise materially breached this Agreement. A decision by a majority of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having jurisdiction. The direct expense of any mediation or arbitration proceeding and, to the extent Executive prevails, all reasonable legal fees shall be borne by the Company.

15. NO PARTICIPATION IN SEVERANCE PLANS . Except as contemplated by this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the compensation and other benefits set forth in this Agreement are and shall be in lieu of any compensation or other benefits that may otherwise be payable to or on behalf of Executive pursuant to the terms of any severance pay arrangement of the Company or any affiliate thereof, or any other similar arrangement of the Company or any affiliates thereof providing for benefits upon involuntary termination of employment.

16. GOVERNING LAW . This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of the State of Oregon, notwithstanding the conflict of laws provisions of such state.

17. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE . This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

18. SECTION 409A .

(a) This Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to amounts subject thereto, and shall be interpreted and construed consistent with such intent. Furthermore, if either party notifies the other in writing that, based on the advice of legal counsel, one or more of the provisions of this Agreement contravenes any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code or causes any amounts to be subject to interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the parties shall promptly and reasonably consult with each other (and with their legal counsel), and shall use their reasonable best efforts, to reform the provisions hereof to (a) maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provisions without violating the provisions of Section 409A of the Code or increasing the costs to the Company of providing the applicable benefit or payment and (b) to the extent practicable, to avoid the imposition of any tax, interest or other penalties under Section 409A of the Code upon Executive or the Company.

(b) This Agreement is intended, to the maximum extent possible, to meet the short term deferral exception and/or be a separation pay plan due to an involuntary separation from service under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) and therefore exempt from Code Section 409A.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

SCHMITT INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael R. Zapata

Name:   Michael R. Zapata
Title:   Executive Chairman and President
EXECUTIVE:

/s/ David W. Case

David W. Case

 

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Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AGREEMENT

This Executive Chairman Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into on November 30, 2018, for services commencing as of December 1, 2018 (“ Commencement Date ”), by and between Schmitt Industries, Inc., an Oregon corporation (“ Company ”), and Michael R. Zapata, an individual (“ Chairman ”).

1. Term .  The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the Commencement Date and continue for a period of one year (“ Initial Term ”). At the conclusion of the Initial Term, and each successive term thereafter, the Agreement shall be automatically renewed for an additional one-year term, unless either party gives written notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement at least six months prior to the automatic renewal date (collectively, the “ Term ”).

2. Services .

(a) Executive Chairman, President of Schmitt Industries . During the Term the Chairman shall serve as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (“ Board ”) of Company, and as President of the Company. Chairman shall, to the extent appointed or elected and subject to the terms of this Agreement, continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board throughout the Term.

(b) Position and Duties . Chairman shall have the general powers, duties and responsibilities usually vested in the office of the Executive Chairman and President of the Company, as such powers, duties, and responsibilities are defined in the Company’s Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) and such other additional powers as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board.

(c) Other Services . Company acknowledges and approves Chairman’s current responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sententia Capital Management, LLC (“ Sententia ”). In addition, Company acknowledges that Chairman may do charity work and conduct personal business, as long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Chairman’s duties hereunder.

3. Compensation .  During the term of this Agreement, Company shall pay the amounts and provide the benefits described in this section, and Chairman agrees to accept such amounts and benefits in full payment for Chairman’s services under this Agreement.

(a) Retainer Fee . The Chairman’s retainer fee shall be Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) (the “ Fee ”). The Company shall pay the Fee in a one-time payment on or before December 15, 2018. Chairman agrees to repay Company the full amount if Chairman voluntarily terminates employment within twelve months of the Commencement Date.

(b) Equity Incentive Compensation . For services rendered, within five (5) business days after the Commencement Date, the Company shall issue to Chairman a total of 48,000 restricted stock units (“ RSU’s ”) for shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value (the “ Common Stock ”), in accordance with the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) and pursuant to a customary agreement, relative thereto, which RSU’s shall vest in accordance with the schedule set forth below. In the event of any stock split, combination or similar event, the number of RSU’s and shares of Common Stock referred to above and the Target Price (as defined below) shall be adjusted proportionately so that the number of RSU’s and shares of Common Stock and Target Price would be of equivalent value. Such RSU’s shall vest as follows:

 

Number of RSU’s Vested

   Target Price  

6,000

   $ 2.70  

6,000

   $ 2.90  

6,000

   $ 3.10  

6,000

   $ 3.30  

6,000

   $ 3.50  

6,000

   $ 3.70  

6,000

   $ 3.90  

6,000

   $ 4.10  


The RSU’s shown on each row of the table above shall vest on the first date before the fourth anniversary of the date hereof, if any, that the average closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market for any fifteen (15) consecutive trading days immediately prior to such date (“ 15-Day Average Price ”) is greater than or equal to the corresponding Target Price set forth in the table above, provided that Chairman remains employed by the Company as of the applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Qualifying Event (as defined below) is completed prior to the fourth anniversary of the date hereof, any remaining RSU’s granted under this Agreement shall immediately vest, provided that Chairman remains employed by the Company on the date such Qualifying Event is completed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all RSU’s that have not vested on or before the fourth anniversary of the date hereof shall be forfeited and shall have no further effect.

For the purposes of this section, the occurrence of any of the following with Board and, if required by law, shareholder approval shall constitute a “Qualifying Event”: (x) the Company publicly discloses its intent to terminate its registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”); (y) the Company shall have commenced a self-tender offer for not less than 33% of the Company’s shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding such self-tender offer at an offer price at least equal to the 15-Day Average Price applicable on the date such offer price is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors; and (z) the Company shall have completed any other extraordinary transaction in which more than 15% of the Company’s current outstanding shares were issued as part of such transaction.

Any dividends paid in cash, securities or other property by the Company shall reduce the Target Price set forth in the above table by an amount equal to the value of such dividend.

(c) Reimbursement of Expenses . Company shall pay to or reimburse Chairman for all reasonable and ordinary out-of-pocket business, travel, promotional and similar expenditures incurred by Chairman.

(d) Deductions . Company shall deduct and withhold from all compensation payable to Chairman all amounts required to be deducted or withheld pursuant to any present or future law, ordinance, regulation, order, writ, judgment or decree requiring such deduction and withholding. To the extent legally permissible, the Company shall not treat any fringe benefits or expense reimbursement as income to Chairman.

(e) Death . If the Chairman dies, his employment with the Company and this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the date of his death. The Chairman’s estate or personal representative shall be entitled to receive that portion of the Fee that the Chairman earned through and including the date of the Chairman’s death and any bonus earned prior to the date of the Chairman’s death that remains unpaid. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Chairman which, as of the date of the death of Chairman, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Chairman’s death.

(f) Disability . The Chairman shall be deemed “Permanently Disabled” when he has suffered any medically determinable physical or mental illness, injury or infirmity that prevents the Chairman from performing his responsibilities under this Agreement and which disability has lasted or that the Board in good faith has determined can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 120 calendar days. The Board has the discretion to determine whether the Chairman is disabled and that determination shall be binding and conclusive on the Chairman (and any guardians or representatives for him). If the Chairman becomes Permanently Disabled, the Company may terminate the Chairman’s employment with the Company as a result of the Permanent Disability by providing written notice to the Chairman thirty (30) calendar days prior to the Termination Date, or the Chairman may resign from his employment with the Company by providing written notice to the Company thirty (30) calendar days prior to the Resignation Date. In the event Chairman’s employment under this Agreement is terminated as a result of Chairman’s disability, or Chairman resigns from employment as a result of a Permanent Disability, the Chairman shall be entitled to receive that portion of the Fee that he earned through and including the Termination Date or Resignation Date, as applicable. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Chairman which, as of the date of the disability of Chairman, are not then


subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Executive’s termination due to disability (as defined in this paragraph). Except as provided herein or required by applicable law, the Chairman shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits.

Section  4. Confidentiality .  For purposes of this  Section  4 , the term “ Company ” shall include, in addition to the Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries and any of their respective predecessors, successors and assigns.

(a) Confidential Information . As used in this Agreement, “ Confidential Information ” means any and all confidential, proprietary or other information, whether or not originated by the Chairman or the Company, which is in any way related to the past or present Company’s business and is either designated as confidential or not generally known by or available to the public. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to (whether or not reduced to writing or designated as confidential) (i) information regarding the Company’s existing and potential customers and vendors; (ii) any contracts (including the existence and contents thereof and parties thereto) to which the Company is a party or is bound; (iii) information regarding products and services being purchased or leased by or provided to the Company; (iv) information received by the Company from third parties under an obligation of confidentiality, restricted disclosure or restricted use; (v) personnel and financial information of the Company; (vi) information with respect to the Company’s products, services, facilities, business methods, systems, trade secrets, technical know-how, and other intellectual property; and (vii) marketing and developmental plans and techniques, price and cost data, forecasts and forecast assumptions, and potential strategies of the Company.

(b) Non-Disclosure  and Non-Use  of Confidential Information . The Chairman acknowledges that the Confidential Information of the Company is a valuable, unique asset of the Company and the Chairman’s use or disclosure thereof could cause irreparable harm to the Company for which no remedy at law could be adequate. Accordingly, the Chairman agrees that he shall hold all Confidential Information of the Company in strict confidence and solely for the benefit of the Company, and that, except as necessary in the course of Chairman’s duties as an employee of the Company, he shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose or use or authorize any third party to disclose or use any Confidential Information. The Chairman shall follow all the Company policies and procedures to protect all Confidential Information and take any additional precautions necessary to preserve and protect the use or disclosure of any Confidential Information at all times.

(c) Ownership of Confidential Information . The Chairman acknowledges and agrees that all Confidential Information is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company, whether or not prepared in whole or in part by the Chairman and whether or not disclosed to or entrusted to the custody of the Chairman. Upon the termination or resignation of his employment by the Company, or at any other time at the request of the Company, the Chairman shall promptly deliver to the Company all documents, tapes, disks, or other storage media and any other materials, and all copies thereof in whatever form, in the possession of the Chairman pertaining to the Company’s Business, including, but not limited to, any containing Confidential Information.

(d) Confidentiality Policy . The Chairman’s obligations under this Section  4 are in addition to those imposed by the Board’s Confidentiality Policy which the Chairman has executed.

(e) Survival . The Chairman’s obligations set forth in this  Section  4 , and the Company’s rights and remedies with respect hereto, shall indefinitely survive the termination of this Agreement and the Chairman’s employment by the Company, regardless of the reason therefor.

Section  5. Definitions.  The following capitalized terms shall have, throughout this Agreement, the following meanings:

(a) “ Resignation Date ” shall mean the date specified in the Resignation Notice, or the actual date the Chairman terminates employment with the Company as the result of a resignation as provided in whichever occurs earlier.

(b) “ Termination Date ” shall mean the actual date the Chairman ceases to be employed with the Company as a result of action taken by the Company, and not as a result of Chairman’s resignation from employment.


Section  6. Judicial Modification and Severability.  Chairman agrees that if a court of competent jurisdiction should determine that any phrase or provision in this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable as written for any reason, the court shall modify and enforce any such phrase or provision to the maximum extent reasonably necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, so long as the modification does not render the phrase or provision more restrictive with regard to Chairman than originally drafted. Chairman further agrees that if such modification of a phrase or provision that is invalid or unenforceable as written is legally impossible, the Court shall sever any such phrase or provision from this Agreement, and that the enforceability of all other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected, but shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

Section  7. Amendment.  This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or waived in any manner except by a written instrument signed by both parties to this Agreement.

Section  8. Waiver.  The waiver by any party of compliance by any other party with any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement (whether or not similar), or a continuing waiver or a waiver of any subsequent breach by a party of a provision of this Agreement. Performance by any of the parties of any act not required of it under the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the limitations on its obligations under this Agreement, and no performance shall estop that party from asserting those limitations as to any further or future performance of its obligations.

Section  9. Governing Law and Forum.  This Agreement shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to principles of conflict of laws of such State. Any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought solely in the state or federal courts located in the City of Portland, Oregon.

Section  10. Notices.  All notices required or desired to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered in person and receipted for by the party to whom the notice is directed; mailed by certified or registered United States mail postage prepaid, not later than the day upon which the notice is required to be given pursuant to this Agreement; or delivered by expedited courier, shipping prepaid or mailed to sender, on the next business day, after the date on which it is so sent, and addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company, to:

  

Board of Directors

  

Schmitt Industries, Inc.

  

2765 N.W. Nicolai Street

  

Portland, OR 97210

If to the Chairman, to:

  

Michael R. Zapata

  

2765 N.W. Nicolai Street

Portland, OR 97210

Either party may, by giving written notice to the other party, change the address to which notice shall then be sent.

Section  11. Prior Agreements .  This Agreement is a complete and total integration of the understanding of the parties related to the Chairman’s employment with the Company and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, commitments, agreements, writings, and discussions with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, except the Confidentiality Policy referenced in Section  4(d) hereof. This Agreement shall not be integrated nor supersede any commitments, agreements, writings, and discussions with respect to the Chairman’s prior service as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Section  12. Headings.  The headings of the sections of this Agreement are inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not be deemed to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.


Section  13. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two (2) counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

Section  14. Statutory and Common Law Duties.  The duties the Chairman owes to the Company under this Agreement shall be deemed to include federal and state statutory and common law obligations of the Chairman, and do not in any way supersede or limit any of the obligations or duties the Chairman owes to the Company.

Section 15. Chairman Acknowledgments.

(a) The Chairman Has Read the Document . The Chairman acknowledges and agrees that he has carefully read this entire Agreement and has been given sufficient opportunity to discuss this Agreement with the Company before signing.

(b) The Chairman Has Had an Opportunity to Consult with Others . The Chairman acknowledges and agrees that he has been given an adequate opportunity to consult with his lawyer, accountant, tax advisor, spouse and other persons he deems appropriate concerning this Agreement and the terms and conditions hereof.

(c) Signing is Acceptance . By signing, the Chairman agrees to accept all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and understands that the Company is relying upon the Chairman’s stated acceptance of such terms and conditions.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.

 

“COMPANY”    “CHAIRMAN”
SCHMITT INDUSTRIES, INC.      
By:   

/s/ Ann M. Ferguson

   By:   

/s/ Michael R. Zapata

   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer       Michael R. Zapata

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), by and between Schmitt Industries, Inc., an Oregon corporation (the “Company”), and Ann M. Ferguson (“Executive”), is entered into and effective this 26th day of November (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

A. The Company is engaged primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing and selling high precision test and measurement products for a wide variety of manufacturing, industrial and commercial applications, and Executive has experience in such business.

B. Executive currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and wishes to continue in such role upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

C. The Company desires to continue to employ Executive, and Executive desires to accept such employment, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms, covenants, and conditions set forth herein and the performance of each, it is hereby agreed as follows:

1. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES .

(a) EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby agrees to act, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. As such, Executive shall have responsibilities, duties, and authority reasonably accorded to, expected of, and consistent with Executive’s position and Executive shall report directly to the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Executive hereby accepts this employment upon the terms and conditions herein contained and, subject to Section l(c) hereof, agrees to devote her best efforts and substantially all of her business time and attention to promote and further the business of the Company.

(b) POLICIES. Executive shall faithfully adhere to, execute, and fulfill all lawful policies established by the Company.

(c) OTHER ACTIVITIES. Executive shall not, during the period of her employment hereunder (the “Term”), be engaged in any other business activity pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary advantage if such activity interferes in any material respect with Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. The foregoing limitations shall not be construed as prohibiting Executive from (i) making personal investments in such form or manner as will neither require her services in the operation or affairs of the companies or enterprises in which such investments are made nor subject Executive to any conflict of interest with respect to her duties to the Company, (ii) serving on any civic or charitable boards or committees, or (iii) serving, with the written approval of the Board, as a director of one or more corporations, in each case so long as any such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities under this Agreement. In addition, Executive shall comply with the restrictions listed in Section 3 of this Agreement.


(d) PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. Executive shall not be required by the Company or in the performance of her duties to relocate her primary residence.

2. COMPENSATION . For all services rendered by Executive, the Company shall compensate Executive as follows:

(a) BASE SALARY. As of the Effective Date, the base salary payable to Executive shall be One Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($190,000) per year, payable on a regular basis in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures, but not less than monthly.

(b) BONUS COMPENSATION. Upon execution of this Agreement, Executive shall be paid a signing bonus of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($12,500). Additionally, Executive shall be entitled to participate in future success pools that the Company may create in connection with the disposition of any Company assets.

(c) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD. Upon execution of this Agreement, Executive shall be awarded 5,000 shares of restricted common stock (the “Restricted Stock Award”) under the Company’s equity incentive plan. The Restricted Stock Award will be fully vested upon execution of this Agreement.

(d) EXECUTIVE PERQUISITES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER COMPENSATION. Executive shall be entitled to receive additional benefits and compensation from the Company in such form and to such extent as specified below:

(i) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. The Company shall provide reimbursement to Executive for business travel and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in the performance of her services under this Agreement. All reimbursable expenses shall be appropriately documented in reasonable detail by Executive upon submission of any request for reimbursement and shall be in a format and manner consistent with the Company’s expense reporting policy. Such expenses shall be submitted to the Company’s Executive Chairman for approval or to such other officer of the Company as the Board may from time to time direct.

(ii) PAID TIME OFF. Paid time off in accordance with the applicable policy of the Company as in effect from time to time, but no less favorable to Executive than the policy of the Company in effect on the Effective Date.

(iii) OTHER EXECUTIVE PERQUISITES. The Company shall provide Executive with other executive perquisites as may be made available to or deemed appropriate for Executive by the Board or a committee of the Board and participation in all other Company-wide employee benefits (including group insurance, pension, retirement, and other plans and programs) as are available to the Company’s executive officers from time to time.

3. NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT .

(a) NON-COMPETITION. Except with the written approval of the Board, which approval may be requested by Executive, Executive shall not, during the period of her employment by or with the Company, and during the Non-compete Period (as hereinafter defined) for any reason whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for herself or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person:

(i) OTHER ACTIVITIES. Engage, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, principal, partner, lender, joint venturer, employee, independent contractor, consultant, advisor, or sales representative, in any Competitive Business within the Restricted Territory;

 

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(ii) SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Call upon any person who is, at that time, within the Restricted Territory, an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in a managerial capacity for the purpose or with the intent of enticing such employee away from or out of the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

(iii) SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. Call upon any person or entity that is, at that time, or that has been, within one (1) year prior to that time, a customer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, within the Restricted Territory for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or services in direct competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries within the Restricted Territory;

(iv) SOLICITATION OF ACQUISITION CANDIDATES. Call upon any prospective acquisition candidate (that is, a business that the Company may have an interest in acquiring), on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any person, which candidate was, to Executive’s knowledge after due inquiry, either called upon by the Company, or for which the Company made an acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such candidate.

(b) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

(i) COMPETITIVE BUSINESS shall mean any Person that is engaged in designing, manufacturing and selling high precision test and measurement products for manufacturing, industrial and commercial applications or any other business in which the Company is engaged;

(ii) PERSON shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, firm, or other business of whatever nature;

(iii) RESTRICTED TERRITORY shall mean North America, Europe and China; and

(iv) SUBSIDIARY shall mean the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and any other business organization in which the Company holds at least a fifty percent (50%) equity interest.

(v) NON-COMPETE PERIOD shall mean the longer of (i) the one (1) year period immediately following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or (ii) the time during which Severance Payments (defined below) are being made by the Company to Executive in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Good Cause, Executive terminates her employment with Good Reason, or Executive terminates her employment after a Change in Control pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi)(B), then the Non-compete Period shall be eliminated immediately following the termination of her employment with the Company.

(c) ENFORCEMENT. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company as a result of a breach of the foregoing covenants, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that could be caused to the Company for which it would have no other adequate remedy, Executive agrees that the foregoing covenants may be enforced by the Company in the event of breach by her, by injunctions and restraining orders.

(d) REASONABLE RESTRAINT. It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants in this Section 3 impose a reasonable restraint on Executive in light of the activities and business of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) on the date of the execution of this Agreement and the current plans of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries); but it is also the intent of the

 

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Company and Executive that such covenants be construed and enforced in accordance with the changing activities, business, and locations of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) throughout the term of this covenant, whether before or after the date of termination of the employment of Executive. For example, if, during the term of this Agreement, the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) engages in new and different activities, enters a new business, or establishes new locations for its current activities or business in addition to or other than the activities or business enumerated above or the locations currently established therefor, then Executive will be precluded from soliciting the customers or employees of such new activities or business or from such new location and from directly competing with such new business within the Restricted Territory through the term of these covenants.

(e) OTHER ACTIVITIES. It is further agreed by the parties that, in the event that Executive shall cease to be employed hereunder and enters into a business or pursues other activities not in competition with the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries), or similar activities or business in locations, the operation of which, under such circumstances, does not violate this Section 3, and in any event such new business, activities, or location are not in violation of this Section 3 or of Executive’s obligations under this Section 3, if any, Executive shall not be chargeable with a violation of this Section 3 if the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) shall thereafter enter the same, similar, or a competitive (i) business, (ii) course of activities, or (iii) location, as applicable.

(f) SEPARATE COVENANTS. The covenants in this Section 3 are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not affect the provisions of any other covenant. Moreover, in the event any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time, or territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent that the court deems reasonable, and the Agreement shall thereby be reformed.

(g) INDEPENDENT AGREEMENT. All of the covenants in this Section 3 shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants; except as provided in Section 4(d) below. It is specifically agreed that the Non-compete Period following termination of employment as defined in this Section 3, during which the agreements and covenants of Executive made in this Section 3 shall be effective, shall be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Executive is in violation of any provision of this Section 3.

4. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT; TERMINATION; RIGHTS ON TERMINATION .

(a) AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be at-will. The Executive may terminate her employment at any time for any reason (subject to the notice requirements provided in this Agreement) and the Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time and for any reason (subject to the severance provisions of this Agreement). This at-will employment relationship cannot be changed except by written authorization by the Board.

(b) TERMINATION. Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated in any one of the followings ways:

(i) DEATH OF EXECUTIVE. The employment of Executive shall terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. In the event of such termination, all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall thereupon vest and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

 

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(“Section 409A”) notwithstanding the termination of employment. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Executive which, as of the date of the death of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Executive’s death. The payment described in this Section, if payable, will be paid within ten (10) days after the Executive’s death.

(ii) DISABILITY OF EXECUTIVE. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment in the event the Executive is disabled. The Executive shall be disabled if the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determined physical or mental impairment expected to last at least twelve consecutive months or result in death, or if the Executive is determined to be disabled under a Company disability plan with a similar definition of disability. In the event of such termination, all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall thereupon vest and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A notwithstanding the termination of employment. All restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by the Executive which, as of the date of the disability of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of Executive’s termination due to disability (as defined in this paragraph).

(iii) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR GOOD CAUSE. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Executive for “Good Cause,” which shall mean any one or more of the following: (A) Executive’s willful and material breach of this Agreement which has not been cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach from the Company; (B) Executive’s gross negligence in the performance or intentional nonperformance (continuing for thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of need to cure) of any of Executive’s material duties and responsibilities hereunder; (C) Executive’s willful dishonesty, fraud, or misconduct with respect to the business or affairs of the Company, which materially and adversely affects the operations or reputation of the Company; (D) Executive’s conviction of a felony crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (E) a confirmed positive illegal drug test result. In the event of a termination by the Company for Good Cause, Executive shall have no right to any severance compensation.

(iv) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE OR BY EXECUTIVE WITH GOOD REASON. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Good Cause upon the approval of a majority of the members of the Board, excluding Executive if Executive is a member of the Board. Executive may terminate her employment under this Agreement for Good Reason upon thirty (30) days prior notice to the Company.

(A) RESULT OF TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE OR BY EXECUTIVE WITH GOOD REASON. Should the Company terminate Executive’s employment without Good Cause or should Executive terminate her employment with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive, on a monthly basis for twelve (12) months after such termination, on such dates as would otherwise be paid by the Company, an amount equal to the average of the monthly base salary and bonus paid to Executive for the two (2) prior full fiscal years. In addition, the Company will pay, on a monthly basis for six (6) months, the Company-paid portion of insurance premiums for coverage under the health and welfare programs of the Company in effect on the date of termination. The amounts payable under the two preceding sentences are the “Severance Payments” contemplated by this Agreement and shall commence on the first payroll date following Executive’s “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue

 

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Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and shall be treated as a series of separate payments under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Further, if the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Good Cause or Executive terminates her employment with Good Reason, (1) all options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by Executive shall vest thereupon and shall be exercisable for the maximum period of time, up to their full term, that will not cause Executive with respect to such options to be subject to any excise tax under Section 409A notwithstanding the termination of employment, (2) all restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by Executive which, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of termination, (3) all restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) held by Executive which, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, is subject to performance conditions for vesting, shall be fully vested and treated as if the performance conditions for such award had been fully met at target and shall not be subject to any risk of forfeiture or repurchase as of the date of termination, and (4) Executive shall be entitled to receive all other unpaid benefits due and owing through Executive’s last day of employment. Further, any termination by the Company without Good Cause or by Executive for Good Reason shall operate to eliminate the Non-compete Period set forth in Section 3.

(B) DEFINITION OF GOOD REASON. Executive shall have “Good Reason” to terminate employment upon the occurrence of any of the following events, without Executive’s written approval: (1) Executive suffers a material reduction in authority, responsibilities, or duties as provided herein; (2) Executive’s annual base salary as set forth in this Agreement is reduced in excess of fifteen percent (15%); (3) Executive is required to render her primary employment services from a location more than 25 miles from the Company’s headquarters at the time Executive began her employment with the Company; (4) the Company takes steps to deny Executive a reasonable opportunity to maintain Executive’s total compensation (i.e., base salary plus bonus and any other annual cash incentive compensation) compared to the previous fiscal year (provided total compensation may take into account performance of the Company and the past compensation practices of the Company) or (5) the Company breaches a material provision of this Agreement. In order for an event to justify termination for Good Reason, the Executive must give written notice to the Company of such event within 90 days of its first occurrence and the Company must have 30 days to cure, if possible.

(v) RESIGNATION BY EXECUTIVE WITHOUT GOOD REASON. Executive may, without cause, and without Good Reason terminate her own employment under this Agreement, effective thirty (30) days after written notice is provided to the Company or such earlier time as any such resignation may be accepted by the Company. If Executive resigns or otherwise terminates her employment without Good Reason, Executive shall receive no severance compensation.

(vi) CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE COMPANY.

(A) POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. Executive understands and acknowledges that the Company may be merged or consolidated with or into another entity and that such entity shall automatically succeed to the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder or that the Company may undergo another type of Change in Control. In the event such a merger or consolidation or other Change in Control is initiated prior to the end of the Term, then the provisions of this Section 4(b)(vi) shall be applicable.

(B) TERMINATION SUBSEQUENT TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that the Company, at any time within one (1) year after a Change in Control, terminates Executive without Good Cause or Executive resigns with Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth in Sections 4(b)(iv)(A)

 

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above, except that, in lieu of the payment pursuant to Section 4(b)(iv)(A), the Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment within thirty (30) days of the termination date. The lump sum payment shall be equal to the sum of (x) the average annual base salary and bonus paid to Executive for the two (2) prior full fiscal years preceding the date of termination, and (y) the Company-paid portion of insurance premiums for six (6) months of coverage under the health and welfare programs of the Company in effect on the date of termination, in each case less all applicable taxes, payroll deductions and withholdings required by law. In addition, any unvested stock options and restricted stock shall immediately be fully vested. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the independent accountants acting as auditors for the Company on the date of the Change in Control determine that such single payment, together with other compensation received by Executive, would constitute “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, the single payment to Executive shall be reduced to the maximum amount which may be paid without such payments in the aggregate constituting “excess parachute payments.”

(C) EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of applying Section 4 hereof, the effective date of the Change in Control will be the closing date of the transaction giving rise to the Change in Control.

(D) DEFINITION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. A “Change in Control” shall mean the items in (1)-(4) below and a transaction that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), as amended, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or if Item 6(e) is no longer in effect, any regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, which serve similar purposes; provided that to constitute a Change in Control the transaction must satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5) relating to “change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation”:

(1) INTENTIONALLY DELETED.

(2) TENDER OFFER. A tender offer or exchange offer is made where the intent of such offer is to take over control of the Company, and such offer is consummated for the equity securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

(3) MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION. The shareholders of the Company shall approve a merger or consolidation, of the Company, or consummation of any such transaction if shareholder approval is not obtained, other than any such transaction that would result in at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by the holders of outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the transaction, with the voting power of each such continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not substantially altered in the transaction; or

(4) LIQUIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS. The shareholders of the Company shall approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or a substantial portion of the Company’s assets to another person or entity, which is not a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

(E) INTENTIONALLY DELETED.

 

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(F) NOTIFICATION. Executive shall be notified in writing by the Company at any time that the Company anticipates that a Change in Control may take place.

(G) SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits the right to which provides for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, and which payment or provision is triggered by Executive’s termination of employment (whether such payments or benefits are provided to Executive under this Agreement or under any other plan, program or arrangement of the Company), until the earlier of (i) the date which is the first business day following the six-month anniversary of Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) for any reason other than death or (ii) Executive’s date of death, and such payments or benefits that, if not for the six-month delay described herein, would be due and payable prior to such date shall be made or provided to Executive on such date. The Company shall make the determination as to whether Executive is a “specified employee” in good faith in accordance with its general procedures adopted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and, at the time of the Executive’s “separation of service” will notify the Executive whether or not she is a “specified employee.”

(c) PAYMENTS TO TERMINATION DATE. Upon termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement for any reason provided above, Executive shall be entitled to receive all compensation earned and all benefits and reimbursements due through the effective date of termination. Additional compensation subsequent to termination, if any, will be due and payable to Executive only to the extent and in the manner expressly provided above. All other rights and obligations of the Company and Executive under this Agreement shall cease as of the effective date of termination (other than those expressly required under applicable law (such as COBRA)), except that the Company’s obligations under Section 8 (relating to indemnification of Executive) and Executive’s obligations under Section 3 (relating to non-competition), Section 5 (relating to return of Company property), Section 6 (relating to inventions), Section 7 (relating to trade secrets), and Section 9 (relating to prior agreements) shall survive such termination in accordance with their terms.

(d) FAILURE TO PAY EXECUTIVE. If termination of Executive’s employment arises out of the Company’s failure to pay Executive on a timely basis the amounts to which she is entitled under this Agreement or as a result of any other breach of this Agreement by the Company, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to the provisions of Section 14, the Company shall pay all amounts and damages to which Executive may be entitled as a result of such breach, including interest thereon and all reasonable legal fees and expenses and other costs incurred by Executive to enforce her rights hereunder. Further, none of the provisions of Section 3 (relating to non-competition) shall apply in the event Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated as a result of a breach by the Company.

(e) CONDITIONS PRECEDENT FOR PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE. In consideration for Company’s obligations to make any payments to Executive pursuant to Section 4, upon termination of Executive’s employment with Company for any reason other than Executive’s death, Executive shall sign and not revoke a release in a form satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”). Company shall present the Release to Executive within ten (10) days of termination, and Executive shall have up to forty-five (45) days to consider whether to sign the Release; in the event Executive executes the Release, Executive shall have an additional eight (8) calendar days in which to expressly revoke Executive’s execution of the Release in writing. In the event that Executive fails to execute the Release within the forty-five (45) days following termination, or in the event Executive formally revokes the Executive’s Release within eight (8) calendar days of her signing of the Release, then Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company shall make any payments to Executive in

 

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accordance with the terms of Section 4 prior to Executive’s failure to execute the Release within forty-five (45) days or prior to her revocation; provided that if Executive does not sign the Release or if Executive revokes the Release during any statutory revocation period, Executive shall immediately reimburse Company for any and all such payments.

(f) DELAY IN SEVERANCE PAYMENTS. To the extent required under Section 409A, any severance payments due under this Section 4 shall be delayed until the first date such payment may be made in compliance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B).

5. RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY . All records, designs, patents, business plans, financial statements, manuals, memoranda, lists, and other property delivered to or compiled by Executive by or on behalf of the Company (or its subsidiaries) or its representatives, vendors, or customers that pertain to the business of the Company (or its subsidiaries) shall be and remain the property of the Company and be subject at all times to its discretion and control. Likewise, all correspondence, reports, records, charts, advertising materials, and other similar data pertaining to the business, activities, or future plans of the Company (or its subsidiaries) that is collected by Executive shall be delivered promptly to the Company without request by it upon termination of Executive’s employment.

6. INVENTIONS . Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all significant conceptions and ideas for inventions, improvements, and valuable discoveries, whether patentable or not, which are conceived or made by Executive, solely or jointly with another, during the period of employment or within one (1) year thereafter, and which are directly related to the business or activities of the Company (or its subsidiaries) and which Executive conceives as a result of her employment by the Company. Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all her interests therein to the Company or its nominee. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments, and other instruments that the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Company’s interest therein.

7. TRADE SECRETS . Executive agrees that she will not, during or after the period of employment under this Agreement, disclose the specific terms of the Company’s relationships or agreements with its respective significant vendors or customers, or any other significant and material trade secret of the Company, whether in existence or proposed, to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or business for any reason or purpose whatsoever.

8. INDEMNIFICATION . In the event Executive is made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by the Company against Executive), by reason of the fact that she is or was performing services under this Agreement, then the Company shall indemnify Executive against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, as actually and reasonably incurred by Executive in connection therewith to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, the Executive must deliver a written undertaking to the Company that if it is subsequently determined by a court of law in a final, non-appealable judgment, that the Executive was not entitled to indemnification under applicable law, then the Executive will repay all amounts. The advancement of expenses shall be mandatory. In the event that both Executive and the Company are made a party to the same third-party action, complaint, suit, or proceeding, the Company agrees to engage competent legal representation, and Executive agrees to use the same representation, provided that if counsel selected by the Company shall have a conflict of interest that prevents such counsel from representing Executive, Executive may engage separate counsel and the Company shall pay all attorneys’ fees of such separate counsel. Further, while Executive is expected at all times to use her best efforts to faithfully discharge her duties under this Agreement, Executive cannot be held liable to the Company for errors or omissions made in good faith if Executive has not exhibited gross, willful, and wanton negligence and misconduct

 

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or performed criminal and fraudulent acts that materially damage the business of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 8, the provision of any written indemnification agreement applicable to the directors or officers of the Company to which Executive shall be a party shall apply rather than this Section 8 to the extent inconsistent with this Section 8.

9. NO PRIOR AGREEMENTS . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the execution of this Agreement by Executive and her employment by the Company and the performance of her duties hereunder will not violate or be a breach of any agreement with a former employer, client, or any other person or entity. Further, Executive agrees to indemnify the Company for any claim, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses of investigation, by any such third party that such third party may now have or may hereafter come to have against the Company based upon or arising out of any non-competition, invention, or secrecy agreement between Executive and such third party that was in existence as of the date of this Agreement.

10. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT . Executive understands that she is being employed by the Company on the basis of her personal qualifications, experience, and skills. Executive agrees, therefore, that she cannot assign all or any portion of her performance under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding two (2) sentences and the express provisions of Section 11 below, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

11. COMPLETE AGREEMENT . This Agreement is not a promise of future employment. Executive has no oral representations, understandings, or agreements with the Company or any of its officers, directors, or representatives covering the same subject matter as this Agreement. This written Agreement is the final, complete, and exclusive statement and expression of the agreement between the Company and Executive and of all the terms of this Agreement, and it cannot be varied, contradicted, or supplemented by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements. This written Agreement may not be later modified except by a further writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and Executive, and no term of this Agreement may be waived except by writing signed by the party waiving the benefit of such term. This Agreement hereby supersedes any other employment agreements or understandings, written or oral, between the Company and Executive.

12. NOTICE . Whenever any notice is required hereunder, it shall be given in writing addressed as follows:

 

To the Company:

  

Schmitt Industries, Inc.

  

2765 NW Nicolai Street

  

Portland, Oregon 97210

  

Attention: Executive Chairman

With a copy to:

  

Holland & Knight LLP

  

2300 U.S. Bancorp Tower 111 SW Fifth Avenue

  

Portland, Oregon 97204

  

Attention: Mark von Bergen, Esq.

 

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To Executive:

  

Ann M. Ferguson

  

2765 NW Nicolai Street

  

Portland, Oregon 97210

Notice shall be deemed given and effective when hand delivered or the first business day after being deposited with a reputable, nationally recognized overnight delivery service or when actually received. Either party may change the address for notice by notifying the other party of such change in accordance with this Section 12.

13. SEVERABILITY; HEADINGS . If any portion of this Agreement is held invalid or inoperative, the other portions of this Agreement shall be deemed valid and operative and, so far as is reasonable and possible, effect shall be given to the intent manifested by the portion held invalid or inoperative. The Section headings herein are for reference purposes only and are not intended in any way to describe, interpret, define or limit the extent or intent of the Agreement or of any part hereof.

14. MEDIATION/ARBITRATION . All disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be resolved as set forth in this Section 14. If any party hereto desires to make any claim arising out of this Agreement (“Claimant”), then such party shall first deliver to the other party (“Respondent”) written notice (“Claim Notice”) of Claimant’s intent to make such claim explaining Claimant’s reasons for such claim in sufficient detail for Respondent to respond. Respondent shall have ten (10) business days from the date the Claim Notice was given to Respondent to object in writing to the claim (“Notice of Objection”), or otherwise cure any breach hereof alleged in the Claim Notice. Any Notice of Objection shall specify with particularity the reasons for such objection. Following receipt of the Notice of Objection, if any, Claimant and Respondent shall immediately seek to resolve by good faith negotiations the dispute alleged in the Claim Notice, and may, at the request of either party, utilize the services of an independent mediator. If Claimant and Respondent are unable to resolve the dispute in writing within ten (10) business days from the date negotiations began, then without the necessity of further agreement of Claimant or Respondent, the dispute set forth in the Claim Notice shall be submitted to binding arbitration (except for claims arising out of Sections 3 or 7 hereof), initiated by either Claimant or Respondent pursuant to this Section. Such arbitration shall be conducted before a panel of three (3) arbitrators in Portland, Oregon, in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) then in effect, provided that the parties may agree to use arbitrators other than those provided by the AAA. The arbitrators shall not have the authority to add to, detract from, or modify any provision hereof nor to award punitive damages to any injured party. The arbitrators shall have the authority to order back-pay, severance compensation, vesting of options (or cash compensation in lieu of vesting of options), vesting and the removal of restrictions on restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (or comparable forms of equity compensation, if any) that, as of the effective date of the termination of Executive, are not then subject to any performance conditions for vesting, reimbursement of costs, including those incurred to enforce this Agreement, and interest thereon in the event the arbitrators determine that Executive was terminated without disability or without Good Cause, as defined in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) hereof, respectively, or that the Company has otherwise materially breached this Agreement. A decision by a majority of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having jurisdiction. The direct expense of any mediation or arbitration proceeding and, to the extent Executive prevails, all reasonable legal fees shall be borne by the Company.

15. NO PARTICIPATION IN SEVERANCE PLANS . Except as contemplated by this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the compensation and other benefits set forth in this Agreement are and shall be in lieu of any compensation or other benefits that may otherwise be payable to or on behalf of Executive pursuant to the terms of any severance pay arrangement of the Company or any affiliate thereof, or any other similar arrangement of the Company or any affiliates thereof providing for benefits upon involuntary termination of employment.

 

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16. GOVERNING LAW . This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of the State of Oregon, notwithstanding the conflict of laws provisions of such state.

17. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE . This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

18. SECTION 409A .

(a) This Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to amounts subject thereto, and shall be interpreted and construed consistent with such intent. Furthermore, if either party notifies the other in writing that, based on the advice of legal counsel, one or more of the provisions of this Agreement contravenes any regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code or causes any amounts to be subject to interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the parties shall promptly and reasonably consult with each other (and with their legal counsel), and shall use their reasonable best efforts, to reform the provisions hereof to (a) maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provisions without violating the provisions of Section 409A of the Code or increasing the costs to the Company of providing the applicable benefit or payment and (b) to the extent practicable, to avoid the imposition of any tax, interest or other penalties under Section 409A of the Code upon Executive or the Company.

(b) This Agreement is intended, to the maximum extent possible, to meet the short term deferral exception and/or be a separation pay plan due to an involuntary separation from service under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) and therefore exempt from Code Section 409A.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

SCHMITT INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael R. Zapata

Name:   Michael R. Zapata
Title:   Director
EXECUTIVE:

/s/ Ann M. Ferguson

Ann M. Ferguson

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

SCHMITT INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC REORGANIZATION

 

 

New Structure Focuses and Commits to Core SBS Business

 

 

Company to Seek Disposition of Non-Core Assets

 

 

David Case, CEO, Named Special Advisor to Board of Directors

 

 

Donna Witkowski Promoted to SBS President

 

 

Michael Zapata Appointed Executive Chairman, President of Schmitt

PORTLAND, OR, November 27, 2018 – Schmitt Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMIT) today announced a strategic reorganization that will position the company to capitalize on the growing SBS Balancer business, while streamlining the company and maximizing shareholder value through the disposition of non-core assets.

The new Schmitt structure organizes the core SBS Balancer business under Donna Witkowski, who is being promoted to SBS President. David Case will transition from CEO and President of Schmitt Industries to serve as Special Advisor to the Board of Directors to steward the reorganization through mid-April 2019. All product lines—SBS, Xact and Acuity—will report to Michael Zapata, the newly appointed Executive Chairman and President of Schmitt Industries. These changes will take effect December 1, 2018.

“We are strategically positioning Schmitt for the future and committing to a more effective SBS business to better serve customers worldwide, increase growth, and maximize shareholder value,” said Michael Zapata, Executive Chairman and President, Schmitt Industries. “On behalf of the Board I’d like to thank David Case for his leadership and dedication over these years. His commitment to Schmitt will continue to play a key role as he serves as Special Advisor to the Board during this reorganization.”

Executive Chairman and President of Schmitt

Michael Zapata was recently elected to Schmitt’s Board of Directors. He has an engineering degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Columbia University. Mr. Zapata is the founding member of Sententia Capital Management, LLC, a value-based fund. Prior to founding Sententia he served as a Special Operations Officer in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2010.

“The Schmitt Board has made a strategic decision to appoint Michael as Executive Chairman and President to oversee this reorganization. He comes with a unique combination of leadership, strategy development, and operational execution on a global scale that we believe will serve both our customers and shareholders well,” Michael Ellsworth, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said.

Schmitt Leadership Team

With these changes, the Schmitt Leadership Team will be structured as:

 

   

Michael Zapata, Executive Chairman and President

 

   

Ann Ferguson, Chief Financial Officer; Xact General Manager

 

   

Donna Witkowski, SBS President

 

   

Kelvin Woltring, North American Sales Manager; SBS Product Line Manager

 

   

Al Hooton, Chief Technology Officer; Acuity General Manager


SBS President

Donna Witkowski has been promoted to SBS President and will lead the SBS team as they focus on growth and optimization to support Schmitt’s world-wide customer base. She will report to the Executive Chairman. After 5 years with Coca Cola Refreshments as a Production Manager, Witkowski accepted a Production Manager position with Schmitt Industries in 2016 covering the SBS, Acuity, and XACT product lines. In January of 2018 she was promoted and took on the added responsibility of Supply Chain Management. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration, Donna’s focus on streamlining operations and developing processes has resulted in greatly improved customer deliveries as well as decreased costs.

SBS Product Line Manager

Kelvin Woltring has assumed the role of SBS Product Line Manager and will partner with Donna to direct customer base growth and product development. Woltring joined Schmitt’s engineering team in 1999 and has been instrumental in product development for both the SBS and Xact business lines. In 2017, Kelvin was promoted to SBS Sales Manager for the North American and Japanese markets.

“Since joining Schmitt, Donna has proven herself a strong executor with a keen understanding of team integration. I am confident in Donna’s ability to lead the core SBS business with her team and deliver enhanced execution and performance for the growing customer base and industry. Further, Kelvin Woltring’s understanding of our customers’ needs and product knowledge will be key in future product development to lead the way in the grinding industry,” David Case, Special Advisor to the Board, said. “I’d like to thank the entire Schmitt team as they have worked tirelessly to set the Company up for success and I am eager to assist the Company during this transition.”

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has expanded the Strategic Advisory Committee, which now consists of Charlie Davidson, Andrew Hines and Michael Zapata. The Committee will help to assess incoming proposals and advise on the strategic direction of the Company.

Schmitt also announces the retirement of Michael Ellsworth, as Chairman and director, which will be effective December 1, 2018. Mr. Ellsworth has been a director since 2006 and served as Chairman since 2017. Effective December 1, 2018, the Board of Directors will consist of Charlie Davidson, Andrew Hines, Michael Zapata and David Hudson. Messrs. Davidson and Hines will comprise the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee. The Board vacancy, created by Mr. Ellsworth’s retirement, is expected to be filled in the near future to comply with NASDAQ independence rules.

The Board of Directors expresses its gratitude to Mr. Ellsworth for his years of service and leadership. “Those who know Michael personally admire him not only for his business judgment but for his personal values and beliefs,” Mr. Zapata said. “We thank him for his service and dedication and wish him well on behalf of the entire Company and Board.”

About Schmitt Industries

Schmitt Industries, Inc. (the Company) designs, manufactures and sells high precision test and measurement products for two main business segments: the Balancer Segment and the Measurement Segment. For the Balancer Segment, the Company designs, manufactures and sells computer-controlled vibration detection, balancing and process control systems for the worldwide machine tool industry, particularly for grinding machines. The Company also provides sales and service for Europe and Asia through its wholly owned subsidiary, Schmitt Europe Limited (SEL), located in Coventry, England and through its sales representative office located in Shanghai, China. For the Measurement Segment, the Company has two core product lines: the Acuity ® product line, which consists of sales of laser and white light sensor distance measurement and dimensional sizing products; and the Xact ® product line, which consists of sales of remote tank monitoring products that measure the fill levels of tanks holding propane, diesel and other tank-based liquids and revenues from the related monitoring services associated with the transmission of data from the tanks to a secure web site.

For more information contact: Ann M. Ferguson, CFO and Treasurer, (503) 227-7908

 

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