Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance





Exhibit 10.4




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




AGREEMENT, dated this 14th day of August, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), between Renegy
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) with offices at 301 W. Warner Road, Suite
132, Tempe, Arizona 85284, and Hugh Smith (the “Executive”),



W I T N E S S E T H:




WHEREAS, the Company and Executive wish to enter into an employment and compensation
arrangement on the terms and conditions set forth herein which shall supersede all previous
agreements concerning employment between Executive and the Company;




NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Executive mutually agree as follows:



1. Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company
agrees to employ the Executive as its Chief Operating Officer during the Employment Period (as
defined in Section 5) and Executive agrees to perform such acts and duties and furnish such
services to the Company and its affiliates consistent with such position as the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer or Board of Directors shall from time to time direct. The Executive shall
report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall perform under his
supervision. The Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to devote one hundred percent
(100%) of his time and best efforts to the duties provided herein.



2. Compensation. For services rendered to the Company during the term of this
Agreement, the Company shall compensate the Executive with an initial salary, payable in bi-weekly
installments, of $350,000 per annum (“Base Salary”) less applicable withholding, effective March 3,
2008. Such Base Salary shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the
Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) and shall be subject to being
increased, but not decreased, in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. Additionally,
you will be granted 100,000 Renegy stock options, the value of which will be determined on your
date of hire. These options will vest pro-rata monthly over a 48 month period. Further, Renegy
will provide you up to fifteen (15) months of your monthly mortgage payments each month beginning
in March of 2008 and continuing until the Albuquerque house is sold (not to exceed $45,000),, and a
$100,000 signing bonus (paid $10,000 per month during your first ten (10) months of employment).



3. Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a annual bonus
on account of the Company’s 2008 fiscal year with a target payment equal to 125% of Base Salary
based upon criteria developed by the Board or its Compensation Committee (the “Target Bonus”). In
2009 and subsequent years, the Target Bonus may be increased by the Board or its Compensation
Committee, in its sole discretion and may only be decreased with the consent of Executive. The
Target Bonus may be paid to Executive in a mixture of cash and equity compensation, as determined
by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the cash component
shall be no less than 50% of the Target Bonus; provided further, that for the 2008 fiscal year, the
mixture shall be 50% cash and 75% equity.


 


 









 





For 2008, the cash bonus opportunity shall be computed from your 2008 base earnings and the
stock bonus opportunity shall be computed from your 2008 Base Salary.. In the event that all or a
portion of the equity compensation component is paid in stock options, the number of options shall
be determined by dividing the dollar amount by the Black-Scholes value of Company options (or by
such other reasonable method of valuing Company options as the Compensation Committee shall
determine), and such options shall at a maximum be subject to a four-year vesting schedule, with
1/48th of the covered shares vesting each month thereafter, so as to be 100% vested on
the four year anniversary of the grant date, subject to Executive remaining a Service Provider, as
such term is defined in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (“Service Provider”) on each
vesting date.



4. Benefits; Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide or
cause to be provided to the Executive such employee benefits as are provided to other executive
officers of the Company, including family medical and dental, disability and life insurance, and
participation in pension and retirement plans, incentive compensation plans, stock option plans and
other benefit plans (collectively, the “Applicable Benefit Plans”). The Executive shall be entitled
to annual vacations in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies in effect from time to time
for executive officers of the Company.



5. Term: Employment Period. The “Employment Period” shall commence on the Effective
Date and shall continue for an initial term of three (3) years (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter,
the Employment Period shall continue for successive one (1) year terms (the “Additional Terms”)
unless either the Company or the Executive provides written notice of termination of the Employment
Period not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the end of the Initial Term or any
Additional Term, or unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6. If the Executive shall remain
in the full time employ of the Company beyond the Employment Period without any written agreement
between the parties, this Agreement shall be deemed to continue on a month to month basis and
either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at the end of any ensuing calendar
month on written notice of at least thirty (30) days.




6. Termination.



(a) Executive’s employment with the company shall be “at will”. Either the Company or the
Executive may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment at any time, with or without
Cause or Good Reason (as such terms are defined below), in its or his sole discretion, upon thirty
(30) days prior written notice of termination.



(b) Without limiting the foregoing Section 6(a), (i) the Executive may terminate his
employment with the company at any time for Good Reason, or (ii) the Company may terminate his
employment at any time for Cause. “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following: (i) the Company’s
failure to elect or reelect, or to appoint or reappoint, Executive to the office of Chief Operating
Officer of the Company; (ii) material changes by the Company in the Executive’s function, duties or
responsibilities of a scope less than that associated with the position of Chief Operating Officer
of the Company; (iii) Executive’s Base Salary is reduced by the Company below the highest Base
Salary of Executive in effect during the Employment Period; (iv) relocation of Executive’s
principal place of employment to a place that is not within twenty five (25) miles of the city
limits of Tempe, Arizona,;
(v) failure by the Company to obtain
the assumption of this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company; or



 


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 (vi) a material
breach of this Agreement by the Company, which breach is not cured within five (5) days after
written notice thereof is delivered to the Company. “Cause” shall mean (i) the Executive’s
willful, repeated or negligent failure to perform his duties hereunder and to comply with any
reasonable or proper direction given by or on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors and the
continuation of such failure following twenty (20) days written notice to such effect, (ii) the
Executive being guilty of serious misconduct on the Company’s premises or elsewhere, whether during
the performance of his duties or not, which is reasonably likely to cause material damage to the
reputation of the Company or render it materially more difficult for the Executive to
satisfactorily continue to perform his duties and the continuation or a second instance of such
serious misconduct following twenty (20) days written notice to such effect; (iii) the Executive
being found guilty in a criminal court of any offense of a nature which is reasonably likely to
materially adversely affect the reputation of the Company or to materially prejudice its interests
if the Executive were to continue to be employed by the Company; (iv) the Executive’s commission of
any act of fraud or theft involving the Company or its business, or any intentional tort against
the Company; or (v) the Executive’s violation of any of the material terms, covenants,
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement and failure to correct such violation
within twenty (20) days after written notice by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
“Cause” shall only be deemed to exist if it is so determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company, after the Executive and his counsel are first given the opportunity to address the Board
with respect to such determination at a duly noticed meeting of the Board of Directors.



(c) “Disability” shall mean that the Executive, in the good faith determination of the Board
of Directors of the Company, based on the advice of a qualified physician after a proper
examination of the Executive (which Executive shall take reasonable actions to facilitate), is
unable to render services of the character contemplated hereby and that such inability (i) may be
expected to be permanent, or (ii) may be expected to continue for a period of at least six (6)
consecutive months (or for shorter periods totaling more than six (6) months during any period of
twelve (12) consecutive months). Termination resulting from Disability may only be effected after
at least thirty (30) days written notice by the Company of its intention to terminate the
Executive’s employment.



(d) “Termination Date” shall mean (i) if this Agreement is terminated on account of death, the
date of death; (ii) if this Agreement is terminated for Disability, the date established by the
Company pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof; (iii) if this Agreement is terminated by the Company, the
date on which a notice of termination is given to the Executive; (iv) if the Agreement is
terminated by the Executive, the date the Executive ceases work; or (v) if this Agreement expires
by its terms, the last day of the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if within
thirty (30) days after any notice of termination is given, the party receiving such notice notifies
the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Termination Date shall be the
date finally determined to be the Termination Date, either by mutual written agreement of the
parties or by binding arbitration in the manner provided in Section 21 hereof; provided that the
Termination Date shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good
faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable
diligence.


 


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7. Severance:



(a) If (i) the Company terminates the employment of the Executive against his will and without
Cause (including by giving notice of termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 5), or (ii)
the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, if the Executive executes and does not
revoke a standard release in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company the Executive shall be
entitled to receive salary, Incentive Compensation and vacation accrued through the Termination
Date, plus the following:




(i) an amount equal to one year of Executive’s Base Salary in effect on the Termination Date;



(ii) a pro-rated portion of the amount of Incentive Compensation Executive would earn for the
fiscal year in which the termination occurs if the results of operations of the Company for the
period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the Termination Date were annualized (the
“Pro-Rated Incentive Compensation”); and




(iii) full vesting of all outstanding stock options held by Executive.



The Company shall make the termination payment required hereunder within thirty (30) days of the
Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay any
severance pay for any period following the Termination Date if the Executive violates the
provisions of Section 13 of this Agreement in any material respect, and fails to cure such
violation within thirty (30) days after written notice from the Company to the Executive detailing
such violation.



(b) If (i) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment other than for Good Reason,
(ii) the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death or Disability, or (iii) the Executive is
terminated by the Company for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive salary and
accrued vacation through the Termination Date only. In the event of death or Disability the
Executive shall also be entitled to receive the Pro-Rated Incentive Compensation and vesting of
outstanding stock options as provided in Section 7(a).



(c) Subject to Executive timely electing continuation coverage under Title X of the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall subsidize
Executive and his eligible dependents’ COBRA premiums so that Executive pays the same premium as an
active employee of the Company for a period equal to the lesser of (i) eighteen (18) months
following Executive’s termination date, or (ii) the date on which Executive becomes covered under
the group health plans of another employer with comparable group health benefits and levels of
coverage; and



(d) The Executive acknowledges that, upon termination of his employment, he is entitled to no
other compensation, severance or other benefits other than those specifically set forth in this
Agreement or any applicable Stock Option Agreement, or pursuant to any Applicable Benefit Plan.




Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all
expenses normally reimbursed by Company, reasonably incurred by him in furtherance
of
his duties hereunder, and authorized and approved by the Company in compliance with
such rules relating thereto as the Company may, from time to time, adopt and as may
be required in order to permit such payments as proper deductions to Company under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rule and regulations adopted
pursuant thereto now or hereafter in effect.


 


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8. Facilities and Services. The Company shall furnish the Executive with office
space, secretarial and support staff and such other facilities and services as shall be reasonably
necessary for the performance of his duties under this Agreement.



9. Mitigation Not Required. In the event this Agreement is terminated, the Executive
shall not be required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant hereto by seeking other employment or
otherwise. The Executive’s acceptance of any such other employment shall not diminish or impair
the amounts payable to the Executive pursuant hereto.



10. Place of Performance. The Executive shall perform his duties primarily in Tempe,
Arizona or locations within a reasonable proximity thereof, except for reasonable travel as the
performance of the Executive’s duties may require.



11. Insurance and Indemnity. During the Employment Period, if available at reasonable
costs, the Company shall maintain, at its expense, officers and directors fiduciary liability
insurance covering the Executive and all other executive officers and directors in an amount of no
less than $10,000,000. The Company shall also indemnify the Executive, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, from any liability asserted against or incurred by the Executive by reason of the
fact that the Executive is or was an officer or director of the Company or any affiliate or related
party or is or was serving in any capacity at the request of the Company for any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employment benefit plan or other enterprise. This indemnity
shall survive termination of this Agreement.




12. Noncompete and Non-Solicitation.



(a) The Executive agrees that, except in accordance with his duties under this Agreement on
behalf of the Company, or with respect to any Permitted Activities (as defined in Section 13(c)
below):



(i) During the term of this Agreement, Executive will not participate in, be employed in any
capacity by, serve as director, consultant, agent or representative for, or have any interest,
directly or indirectly, in any enterprise which is engaged in a business competitive with the
business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducted during the term of the Executive’s
employment with the Company, or which is being actively developed during the term of the
Executive’s employment with the Company; and



(ii) The Executive acknowledges that the nature of the Company’s business is such that if
Executive were to become employed by, or substantially involved in, the business of a competitor of
the Company during the twelve (12) months following termination of Executive’s employment with the
Company, it would be very difficult for Executive not to rely on or use the Company’s trade secrets
and confidential information. Thus, to avoid the inevitable disclosure of the Company’s trade
secrets and confidential information, Executive agrees and
acknowledges that Executive’s right to receive the payments set forth in Section 7 or 14 (to
the extent Executive is otherwise entitled to such payments) shall be conditioned upon Executive
not directly or indirectly engaging in, as an employee of another company, that is engaged solely
in the business of converting biomass to electricity during the one year period following the
Termination Date (“Competition”).


 


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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(a), Executive may, without violating this
Section 13(a), own, as a passive investment, shares of capital stock of a publicly held-corporation
that engages in Competition where the number of shares of such corporation’s capital stock that are
owned by Executive represent less than three percent (3%) of the total number of shares of such
corporation’s capital stock outstanding.



(c) Non-Solicitation. The Executive further agrees and acknowledges, for such 12
month period following termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, that
Executive’s right to receive the payments set forth in Sections 7 and 14 (to the extent Executive
is otherwise entitled to such payments) shall be conditioned upon Executive not either directly or
indirectly soliciting, inducing, recruiting or encouraging an employee to leave his or her
employment either for Executive or for any other entity or person with which or whom Executive has
a business relationship.



(d) Understanding of Covenants. The Executive represents that he (i) is familiar with
the foregoing covenants not to compete and not to solicit, and (ii) is fully aware of his
obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonableness of the length of time,
scope and geographic coverage of these covenants.




13. Provisions After Change of Control.



(a) In the event Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated (other than as a
consequence of death or Disability) either (x) by the Company for any reason other than for Cause
during a Pending Change of Control (as hereinafter defined) or within twenty-four (24) months
following the occurrence of a Change of Control, or (y) by Executive for Good Reason within
twenty-four (24) months following the occurrence of a Change of Control, if the Executive executes
a standard release in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, then Executive shall be entitled
to receive from the Company, in lieu of the severance payment otherwise payable pursuant to Section
7(a), the following:



(i) an amount equal to two (2) years of Executive’s Base Salary in effect on the Termination
Date;



(ii) the maximum amount of the Incentive Compensation which Executive could earn for the
fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs; and




(iii) full vesting of all outstanding stock options held by Executive.



The Company shall make the termination payments required hereunder within ten (10) days of the
Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay the
termination payments set forth in this Section 14 for any period following the Termination Date if
the Executive violates the provisions of Section 13 of this Agreement in any material
respect, and fails to cure such violation within thirty (30) days after written notice from the
Company to the Executive detailing such violation.


 


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(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change of Control” shall mean:



(i) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor provision) (any of
the foregoing described in this Section 14(b)(i) hereafter a “Person”) of 50% or more of either (a)
the then outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Capital Stock”) or
(b) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Securities”), provided, however, that any
acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation
with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Capital
Stock and Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same
proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Capital
Stock and Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or



(ii) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”)
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the
Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of
the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A, or any
successor section, promulgated under the Exchange Act); or



(iii) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation
(a “Business Combination”), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all holders of
the Outstanding Capital Stock and Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as
the case may be, of the corporation resulting from the Business Combination; or


 


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(iv) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than
60% of respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of
the Outstanding Capital Stock and Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition
in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Capital Stock and Voting
Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition; or



(v) The first purchase under a tender offer or exchange offer for 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of stock (or securities convertible into stock) of the Company, other than an
offer by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.



(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Pending Change of Control” shall mean the
occurrence of one of the following events as the result of which a Change in Control pursuant
thereto is reasonably expected within ninety (90) days after the date of determination as to
whether there is a Pending Change in Control: (i) the Company executes a letter of intent, term
sheet or similar instrument with respect to a transaction or series of transactions, the
consummation of which would result in a Change of Control; (ii) the Board approves a transaction or
series of transactions, the consummation of which would result in a Change of Control; (iii) a
Person makes a public announcement of a tender offer for the Common Stock of the Company, the
consummation of which would result in a Change of Control; or (iv) a Person makes a public
announcement of, or makes a public filing with respect to, the intention of that Person to seek to
change the membership of the Board of Directors of the Company in a manner that would result in a
Change of Control. A Pending Change of Control shall cease to exist upon a Change of Control.



14. Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and
any temporary, proposed or final regulations thereunder (together, “Section 409A”) at the time of
Executive’s termination, and any severance payments (including any benefits which provide for a
“deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A) to be made to Executive pursuant to
this Agreement will not be paid or provided in full by March 15 of the year following the year in
which Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) occurs, then only
that portion of such severance payments up to the 409A Limit (as defined below) may be made within
the first six (6) months following Executive’s separation from service in accordance with the
applicable payment schedule. Any portion of such severance payments in excess of the 409A Limit
shall accrue and, to the extent such severance payments would otherwise have been payable within
the first six (6) months following Executive’s separation from service, will become payable the
date that is six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s separation from
service. All subsequent severance payments, if any, will be payable as provided in this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, the “409A Limit” means the lesser of:




(a) two (2) times the Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the Executive’s annual
rate of pay (the determination of Executive’s annual rate of pay for this purpose shall be
as determined in accordance with Section 409A if additional guidance is released after the
date of this Agreement or, if no such guidance is released, Executive’s annual rate of pay
shall be deemed to be Executive’s annual base salary); and


 


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(b) two (2) times the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan
pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which the Executive has a
separation from service.



The intent of this Agreement is for all payments made hereunder to comply with the requirements of
Section 409A; to the extent any terms of this Agreement are ambiguous, such terms shall be
interpreted in accordance with such intent.




15. Certain Additional Payments by Company.



(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it shall be determined that
any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or
payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) is
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 16 (a “Payment”)
would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 409A, or any interest or penalties are
incurred by Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such
interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then
Executive shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the Payment, a payment (a “Gross-Up
Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any
federal or state income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and the
Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive will have received the Gross-Up Payment in
an amount equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment. The maximum amount of any Gross-Up
Payment shall be $150,000.



(b) Subject to the provision of Section 16(c), all determinations required to be made under
this Section 16, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such
Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be
made by a “Big Four” accounting firm retained by the Company as its auditor at the time such
determinations are required (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting
calculations both to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of
notice from the Company that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is required by the
Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any
Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 16, shall be paid by the Company to
Executive within ten (10) business days of the Company’s receipt of the Accounting Firm’s
determination. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it
shall furnish Executive with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax on Executive’s
applicable federal income tax return would not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar
penalty. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive.
As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 409A at the time of the initial
determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will
not have been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. If Executive thereafter is required to make a payment
of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm should determine the amount of the Underpayment that has
occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of
Executive.


 


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(c) Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service
that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such
notification shall be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) business
days after Executive has been informed in writing of such claim, and shall apprise the Company of
the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is required to be paid. Executive shall
not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty- (30)- day period following the date on
which Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that
any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in
writing prior to the expiration of such thirty- (30)- day period that the Company desires to
consent such claim, Executive shall:



(i) give the Company any information reasonably required by the Company relating to such
claim,



(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably
request in writing from time to time, including, but not limited to, accepting legal representation
with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,




(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and



(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relation to such claim; provided,
however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional
interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold
Executive harmless for (A) any Excise Tax or federal or state income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
expenses, and (B) any federal, state and local income tax imposed with respect to the payment of
amounts pursuant to clause (A) above and this clause (B), based on the highest marginal income tax
rate applicable to Executive for the tax year such payments are includable in his taxable income.
Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 16(c), the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any
and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearing sand conferences with the taxing authority in
respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed
and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Executive agrees to
prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided,
however, that if the Company directs Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company
shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold Executive harmless from (X) any Excise Tax or federal or state income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with
respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance, and (Y) any federal, state and local
income tax imposed with respect to the payment of amounts pursuant to clause (X) above and this
clause (Y), based on the highest marginal income tax rate applicable to Executive for the tax year
such payments are includable in his taxable income; and further provided that any extension of the
statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of Executive with respect
to which
such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount.
Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues within respect to
which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other
taxing authority.


 


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(d) If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
Section 16(c), Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim,
Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements of Section 16(c))
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
thereon after taxes applicable thereto) and, as and when received, an amount equal to any savings
in federal and state income taxes realized by Executive by reason of the payment to the Company of
such refunds and interest. If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company
pursuant to Section 16(c), a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to any
refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its
intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the
amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required
to be paid.



16. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
to his residence in the case of the Executive, or to its principal office in the case of the
Company, or to such other addresses as they may respectively designate in writing.



17. Entire Agreement; Waiver. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the
parties and may not be changed orally but only by an agreement in writing, signed by the party
against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge is sought. Waiver of or
failure to exercise any rights provided by this Agreement in any respect shall not be deemed a
waiver of any further or future rights.



18. Binding Effect; Assignment. The rights and obligations of this Agreement shall
bind and inure to the benefit of any successor of the Company by reorganization, merger or
consolidation, or any assignee of all or substantially all of the Company’s business or properties.
The Executive’s rights hereunder are personal to and shall not be transferable nor assignable by
the Executive.



19. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.



20. Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
and governed for all purposes by the laws and public policy of the State of Arizona applicable to
contracts executed and to be wholly performed within such state. Any dispute or controversy
arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
rules of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the award may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitration shall be held in Maricopa County or in such
other place as the parties hereto may agree.


 


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21. Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees to execute, acknowledge, deliver
and perform, and cause to be executed, acknowledged, delivered and performed, at any time and from
time to time, all such further acts, deeds, assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney
and/or assurances as may be necessary or proper to carry out the provisions or intent of this
Agreement.



22. Severability. The parties agree that if any one or more of the terms, provisions,
covenants or restrictions of this Agreement shall be determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no
way be affected, impaired or invalidated.



23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same
Agreement.



[Signature page follows.]





 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Renegy Holdings, Inc. has caused by instrument to be signed by a duly
authorized officer and the Executive has hereunto set his hand the day and year first above
written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Renegy Holdings, Inc.	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By	 	/s/ Robert M. Worsley	 	 	 	/s/ Hugh W. Smith
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Robert M. Worsley
	 	 	 	Hugh W.Smith
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Chief Executive Officer	 	 	 	 






Signature Page to Employment Agreement