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Exhibit 10.1

November 17, 2010

Joseph C. Levesque
4791 McDonald Drive Circle North
Stillwater, MN 55082

Re: Retirement Benefit

Dear Joe:

This letter will memorialize the agreement the board completed and approved
today regarding your retirement benefit.

 
1.
You will retire as CEO of the Company effective December 31, 2010.

 
2.
During the period January 1 through December 31, 2011, you will receive a
retirement benefit of $203,400, to be paid ratably on the Company’s regular
payroll dates, provided that all payments that would otherwise have been made on
payroll dates after March 15, 2011 and before July 1, 2011 will be aggregated
and paid in one lump sum on the last payroll date on or before March 15, 2011.
During the period January 1 through December 31, 2012, you will receive a
retirement benefit of $133,400, to be paid ratably on the Company’s regular
payroll dates.

 
3.
Payments of your retirement benefit will be made notwithstanding your death, and
will be paid to the beneficiary you have designated in a writing delivered to
the Company prior to your death, or in the absence of a beneficiary designation
(or if your designated beneficiary predeceases you) to your surviving spouse, or
if you do not have a surviving spouse, to the representative of your estate.

 
4.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Company will withhold from any payment such amount or amounts as the Company
reasonably determines may be required for purposes of complying with the tax
withholding provisions of Federal, state or local tax laws for purposes of
paying any income, estate, inheritance, employment or other tax attributable to
any amounts payable under this Agreement.

 
5.
Payment may be accelerated under this Agreement to the extent permitted under
Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(vi) for the payment of

 
 

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Joseph C. Levesque
November 17, 2010
Page 2

 
employment taxes and the corresponding withholding taxes on such employment
taxes.

 
6.
The Company and you intend that payments under this Agreement will comply in
form and operation with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code and the regulations issued thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) or
an exception to Code Section 409A and this Agreement will be interpreted and
administered in a manner that is in compliance therewith.  The series of
payments under paragraph 2 will, for purposes of Code Section 409A, be treated
as a right to a series of separate payments that are due at a fixed time.

Please indicate your agreement to this retirement benefit arrangement by
countersigning a copy of this letter.

Yours truly,

 
/s/ John J. Pollock

 
John J. Pollock
President
Aetrium Incorporated

Agreed:
 
 
/s/ Joseph C. Levesque

 
Joseph C. Levesque
Dated: November 17, 2010

 
 

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