EXHIBIT 10.1

 

December 8, 2004
 

Mr. Carl A. Arena
2268 N. Wisteria Lane
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 283-2607

Dear Carl:

I am pleased to confirm our offer of employment made to you for the position of
Vice President, Development for Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc. (Rubio’s) reporting
directly to me under the terms and conditions outlined below:

Start Date: To be mutually agreed upon, and as soon as feasible.

Base Salary: An annual rate of $160,000 paid biweekly at a rate of $6,153.85 and
subject to withholdings and deductions as required by law. Your salary will be
reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on such review. You will be eligible
for review with merit increase consideration, beginning with the 2006 review
cycle.

Bonus Plan: For the current Fiscal year, you will be eligible to participate in
the Executive Level Bonus Plan at a rate of up to 25% of your prorated base
salary. In addition, you will be eligible for a prorated portion of the 2004
“above plan” pool for exceeding EPS targets, as described in the plan document.
The bonus plan will be adjusted if changes are made to GAAP or accounting
principles permitted by SEC rules. Bonuses are paid post completion of the
audited annual financial results, typically following the first quarter of the
following year. Bonus is paid out based on the Company’s successfully
meeting/exceeding annual EPS plan.
 
Annual bonus plans will be developed for subsequent years and ultimately
approved by the Compensation Committee within a reasonable period of time prior
to the beginning of the following fiscal year.

You may also participate in other bonus or incentive plans adopted by Rubio’s
that are applicable to your position.

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Carl Arena
12/8/2004
Page 2 of 5 

Stock Options: Stock Options for 75,000 shares of Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc.
common stock, pursuant and subject to Rubio’s 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, will be
granted to you on your Start Date at the day’s closing market price. They will
vest at 20% at the end of the first year and each month thereafter for 48 months
on a pro-rata basis. You will also be eligible for any discretionary annual
option grants and incentive option grants which may become available in the
future.

Vacation: 15 days per year accrued pro-rata on a monthly basis.

Health Plans: You will be eligible to participate in Rubio’s medical (including
Exec-U-Care), dental, employee assistance program (EAP), vision, short and long
term disability, and life insurance programs (executive level term life
insurance is two times annual salary) effective the first day of the month
following two consecutive months of service. You will be reimbursed for any
COBRA premiums incurred during this waiting period. Executives contribute
approximately 10% of premium costs. Monthly medical contributions are between
$60.00 (HMO) and $125.00 (PPO) for family coverage. The Company offers an
executive health expense reimbursement program with a $5,000 cap and a Flexible
Spending Account for tax deferred contributions for medical and childcare
expenses.

Professional Reimbursements: You will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
necessarily incurred in the performance of your duties, including, but not
limited to, cell phone service, long distance telephone service, facsimile and
duplication services, overnight and courier services, travel expenses, expenses
related to attendance at industry conferences and membership in industry
associations.

401(k) Plan: You will be eligible to participate in Rubio’s 401(k) Plan
effective the first day of the month following two consecutive months of
service. (Although our 401(k) plan allows for up to 15% of compensation as an
employee’s contribution, you should be aware that our most recent discrimination
testing has limited actual contributions for highly paid executives to
approximately 1%.).

Meal Discount: You and your family will be eligible for a meal discount of 50%
at Rubio’s Restaurants.

Relocation of Household Goods: You will be relocating to the San Diego area by a
mutually agreed upon time. You will be reimbursed for all applicable moving
expenses up to $50,000 which is expected to cover all reasonable relocation
costs for you and your family (i.e., home sale, home purchase, temporary
housing, movement of household goods, etc.). Amounts above the allowable IRS
reimbursements for relocation will be grossed-up for taxes at the applicable
state and federal tax rates. You will need to submit relocation expense receipts
to Rubio’s Controller who will work with you to mitigate the tax impact for both
you and the Company.

Re-payment of Relocation Expenses: Should you resign from your position on a
voluntary basis within the first twelve (12) months of employment you agree to
reimburse Rubio’s for 100% of your submitted relocation expenses. Should you
resign after twelve (12) months, you agree to reimburse Rubio’s on a pro-rata
basis whereby your relocation expense debt would be reduced by 1/12 for each of
the next twelve (12) months you remain employed with Rubio’s. After twenty-four
(24) months of consecutive employment no repayment of relocation expense would
be required.

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Carl Arena
12/8/2004
Page 3 of 5 
 
Severance Benefits: While Rubio’s does not have a formal severance policy, we
are offering the following: If your employment is terminated, without Cause or
upon Disability, as defined below, you will be paid, subject to signing our
standard release agreement, six (6) months of current salary if separation is
within the first twelve (12) months of employment and three (3) months of
current salary thereafter. All severance payments will be made in bi-weekly
installments and subject to all appropriate deductions and withholdings. In
addition, you will have continued enrollment in the health and welfare plans
(with the exception of the 401(k) plan as precluded by our Plan), including life
insurance, for the period of severance or until your eligibility under another
employer’s group benefit plan, whichever event occurs first.

Disability:“Disability” means the medical determination that you are eligible
for benefits under the Company’s long term disability insurance plan.

Cause:“Cause” means: (a) willful failure by you to substantially perform your
duties under this agreement, other than a failure resulting from your complete
or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness or impairment (b)
conviction of or a plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony or crime
involving an act of moral turpitude, dishonesty, or misfeasance under the laws
of the United States or any state thereof; (c) refusal to follow, or material
neglect of, reasonable requests of the Company’s Board of Directors or its
designee(s), if unremedied following thirty (30) days’ written notice; (d)
conduct that substantially interferes with or damages the standing, reputation,
financial condition or prospects of the Company, after you have been given ten
(10) days’ notice and an opportunity to respond; or (e) a material or willful
violation of a federal or state law or regulation applicable to the business of
the Company. If your employment is terminated without Cause you shall be paid
the Severance Benefits described above under Severance Benefits.

At-Will Employment: Employment with Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc. is not for a
specific term and can be terminated by you or the Company at any time and for
any reason, with or without cause or advanced notice. The At-Will nature of your
employment described in this offer letter shall constitute the entire agreement
between you and Rubio’s concerning the nature and duration of your employment
and the circumstance under which you or the Company may terminate the employment
relationship. No oral statement by any person can change the At-Will nature of
your employment with Rubio’s.

Although your job duties, title, and compensation benefits may change over time,
the At-Will term of your employment with Rubio’s can only be changed in writing,
signed by you and the President or Chairman of the Company, and which expressly
states the intention to change the At-Will term of your employment. Any prior
representations to the contrary are superseded by the terms of this offer.

Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation: One of the conditions of your employment
with Rubio’s is the maintenance of the confidentiality of Rubio’s proprietary
and confidential information. You agree during and after the period of your
employment with Rubio’s not to use, directly or indirectly, any confidential
information other than in the course of performing duties as an employee of
Rubio’s. You further agree that during your term of employment and for two (2)
years thereafter, not to encourage or solicit, directly or indirectly, any
employee of Rubio’s to leave the Company for any reason. You will be required to
execute the Company’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement on your
first day of employment.

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Carl Arena
12/8/2004
Page 4 of 5 
 
Company Policy: As an employee of Rubio’s, you will be required to comply with
all Company policies and procedures. In particular, you will be required to
familiarize yourself with and to comply with Rubio’s policy prohibiting
harassment and discrimination and the policy concerning drugs and alcohol.
Violations of these policies may lead to immediate termination of employment.

Arbitration: Rubio’s maintains a policy of mandatory arbitration. This means
that any and all disputes that you may have with Rubio’s, or any of Rubio’s
other employees, which arise out of your employment, will be resolved through
final and binding arbitration. This includes, without limitation, disputes
relating to offer letters, your employment by Rubio’s or the termination
thereof, claims for breach of contract, claims for breach of covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, any claims of discrimination or harassment, any claims
under any federal, state or local law or regulation now in existence or
hereinafter enacted and amended from time to time concerning in any way the
subject of your employment with Rubio’s or your termination. You agree that
arbitration shall be instead of any civil lawsuit and you waive your right to
pursue any and all employment-related claims in court.

This letter supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any
kind, express or implied, concerning your employment and it constitutes the full
and complete agreement between you and the Company.

The foregoing offer of employment with Rubio’s is contingent upon your
successful completion of a background and reference checks, pre-employment drug
and alcohol screen, your execution of this letter, the Company’s Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement, the Company’s Arbitration Agreement and
all other forms presented at the time of hire. This offer is further contingent
upon the Company’s verification of the information provided to us in your
application form, resume and attachments, if any.

The existence and terms of this offer letter should remain confidential except
for disclosure to your spouse, attorneys, accountants and other tax or financial
professional advisors to whom the disclosure is necessary.

Carl, we are very excited about your joining our team. We are confident that you
have much to contribute to the success of Rubio’s. The strength of our
organization and our brand, the quality and experience of our team, and your
contributions will facilitate this success.

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Carl Arena
12/8/2004
Page 5 of 5 
 
Assuming you wish to accept our offer of employment on the terms described
herein, please acknowledge your acceptance by signing below and returning the
original to me within seven (7) business days. A copy of this letter has been
enclosed for your records. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact me by calling (760) 602-3625.

Sincerely,

/s/ Sheri Miksa                                          
Sheri Miksa
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rubio’s Restaurants, Inc.

 

I have read, understand and accept the terms and conditions of the above offer
of employment.

Accepted: /s/ Carl Arena                                 Date:
__________________
                    Carl Arena
 
 

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