United States Securities & Exchange Commission EDGAR Filing


EXHIBIT 10.1




EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into effective the 26th day of July, 2007 by and between Parlux Fragrances, Inc. (the "Company") and Neil Katz (the "Executive" and, together with the Company, the "Parties").

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company as the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; 

WHEREAS, the terms of this Agreement have been reviewed and approved by the members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Committee").

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1.

Position and Duties. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts and agrees to serve as CEO of the Company. The Executive shall report to the Board. Subject to the advice, consent and direction of the Company's Board of Directors, the Executive will perform all duties and responsibilities and will have all authority inherent in the position of CEO. 

2.

Term of Agreement and Employment. The term of the Executive's employment under this Agreement will be for an initial period of three (3) years, beginning on the effective date of this Agreement (the “Term”), and terminating three years thereafter. The Term will be automatically extended for two (2) consecutive one (1) year periods, unless either party provides six (6) months prior written notice of its desire not to so extend the Term.

3.

Definitions.

A.

Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” for the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be deemed to exist if, in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors: (i) the Employee commits fraud, theft or embezzlement; (ii) the Employee commits an act of dishonesty affecting the Company or a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iii) the Employee breaches any non-competition, confidentiality or non-solicitation agreement with the Company; (iv) the Employee breaches any of the material terms of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 30 days after the receipt of written notice of such breach from the Company; (v) the Employee engages in gross negligence or willful misconduct that causes unreasonable harm to the business and operations of the Company; or (vi) the Executive’s unreasonable failure or refusal to diligently perform the duties and responsibilities required to be performed by the Executive under the terms of this Agreement. 

B.

Company Transaction Events. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) a "Going Private Event” means a transaction in which 90% or more of the issued and




















C.

outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company are to be sold or exchanged (pursuant to an agreement, tender or exchange offer or otherwise) by the holders thereof for cash or for securities, so that upon the closing of such a transaction (or a second step merger related thereto), Parlux common stock is no longer traded on any public stock exchange (e.g., Nasdaq, AMEX, NYSE, etc.) or recognized trading market (e.g., Nasdaq OTCBB) and the holders of Parlux common stock prior to the closing of such a transaction hold cash or non-publicly traded securities in a private company after the transaction, (ii) a "Company Merger Event" means a transaction in which 90% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company are to be exchanged (pursuant to an agreement, exchange offer or otherwise) by the holders thereof for securities of any public company, so that upon the closing of such a transaction (or a second step merger related thereto), all Parlux common stock has been exchanged or converted into securities of a public company that are traded on a public stock exchange (e.g., Nasdaq, AMEX, NYSE, etc.) or recognized trading market (e.g., Nasdaq OTCBB) and the holders of Parlux common stock prior to the closing of such a transaction hold publicly traded securities in a public company after the transaction. 

D.

Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, termination by the Executive of his employment for "Good Reason" shall mean a termination by the Executive following a "Good Reason Event" provided (i) the Executive provides notice to the Company of such Good Reason Event within 90 days of the initial existence of such Good Reason Event; (ii) the notice provides the Company with 30 days during which it may remedy the Good Reason Event; and (iii) the Company fails to remedy the Good Reason Event within such 30 day period. A "Good Reason Event shall be deemed to occur upon (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities or (ii) any action or inaction of the Company which constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.

4.

Compensation. 

A.

Annual Base Salary. Unless terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, Executive shall be paid an annual base salary of (i) $500,000 for the first 12 months of the Term, (ii) $550,000 for months 13 through 24 of the Term and (iii) $600,000 for months 25 through 36 of the Term, and for any extension of the Term pursuant to Section 2 (as applicable, the "Annual Base Salary"). The Annual Base Salary shall be payable at such regular times and intervals as the Company customarily pays its executives from time to time.

B.

Executive Bonus Plan. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in an executive bonus plan (the “Bonus Plan”), the terms and conditions of which shall be established by the Committee for each fiscal year and which will provide that Executive will be able to earn an annual bonus of up to 50% of the Annual Base Salary, based upon achievement by the Company of certain financial measures and management objectives as determined by the Committee.






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5.

Executive Benefits. The Executive will be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per fiscal year. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Executive will be eligible for and may participate in, without action by the Board or any committee thereof, any benefits and perquisites available to executive officers of the Company, including any group health, dental, disability, or other form of executive benefit plan or program of the Company existing from time to time on the same terms and conditions as is available to all other executives (collectively, the "Executive Benefits"). Executive shall receive additional term life insurance coverage with an annual cost to the Company not to exceed $2,000 per year, and shall be provided with an automobile allowance of $800 per month, at the Company’s expense.

6.

Reimbursement for Relocation. The Company will reimburse Executive for Executive's reasonable and documented relocation expenses (which will include moving expenses, travel expenses for Executive and Executive's fiance or spouse, and temporary housing for up to three months commencing on the date hereof, but which shall exclude any closing costs, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred by Executive in connection with Executive's purchase of a residence in Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach Counties, Florida ("South Florida") and Executive's sale of his existing residence in New York). If at any time during the Term of this Agreement, the Company moves the location where the Executive is required to work to a location outside of South Florida, the Company will reimburse Executive for Executive's reasonable and documented relocation expenses (which will include moving expenses, travel expenses for Executive and Executive's fiance or spouse, and temporary housing for up to three months commencing on the date he is required to relocate, but which shall exclude any closing costs, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred by Executive in connection with Executive's purchase of a residence in the new location and Executive's sale of his residence in South Florida). If, within one year from the date of any relocation of the Executive, Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for Cause or if Executive voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company other than for Good Reason, Executive will be required to refund all moving expenses, but not the travel expenses or temporary housing expenses, included within the relocation expenses paid to Executive by the Company. The Company shall be entitled to offset any amount owed by the Executive against any other payment due to Executive. If the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated without Cause or if Executive terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, the Company will reimburse Executive's reasonable and documented moving expenses (but no other expenses) to relocate himself and his fiance or spouse to New York within six months of such termination.

7.

Stock Options. As additional consideration for the Executive's services hereunder and the covenants contained herein, the Company shall grant Executive an option (the "Option") to purchase 180,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock") pursuant to the Company's 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2007 Plan") upon shareholder approval of the 2007 Plan. The Option (i) shall provide for an exercise price equal to the market price of the Common Stock as of the close of trading on a public stock exchange or recognized trading market on the date the 2007 Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, and (ii) shall further provide that the Option shall vest as 






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provided on Schedule A, unless terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof. Immediately prior to the closing of a Going Private Event or a Company Merger Event, any unvested portion of the Option shall fully vest and be exercisable by the Executive prior to the closing of the Going Private Event or Company Merger Event; provided, however, that if the Company Merger Event is with a public company that any individual shareholder or group of affiliated shareholders of the Company beneficially owns 10% or more of for a period of at least six months prior to the closing of the Company Merger Event (an "Affiliated Public Company"), then the vesting of the unvested portion of the Executive's Option shall not be accelerated so long as the Executive's Option to purchase shares of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into an option to purchase shares of the common stock of the Affiliated Public Company with the same economic value as of the date of the closing of the transaction.

8.

Death or Disability. The Executive's employment will terminate immediately upon the Executive's death. If the Executive becomes physically or mentally disabled so as to become unable for a period of more than three consecutive months to perform the Executive's duties hereunder on a substantially full-time basis, the Executive's employment will terminate as of the end of such three-month and this shall be considered a "disability" under this Agreement. The Executive agrees to submit to reasonable examination by a licensed physician selected by the Company to confirm existence or extent of any disability. Such termination shall not affect the Executive's benefits under the Company's disability insurance program, if any, then in effect.

9.

Termination. The Executive may terminate this Agreement for any reason upon not less than one hundred eighty (180) days written notice. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause with no prior notice, or for any other reason upon one hundred eighty (180) days written notice.

A.

Termination of Employment Other Than by Resignation of Executive or Termination for Cause. Upon the termination of this Agreement for any reason (including termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason, termination by the Company without Cause, or termination upon the death or disability of the Executive) other than by the resignation of Executive without Good Reason or a termination by the Company for Cause, the following shall apply: 

(i)

Termination Payment. The Executive, or his estate and heirs following his death, shall be entitled (A) to continue to receive, except as provided in Section 11 of this Agreement, his Annual Base Salary in effect at the time of such termination for a period of 12 months following the date of such termination (the "Severance Period"), (B) to be paid, except as provided in Section 11 of this Agreement, when otherwise payable as if employment was not terminated, any bonus earned by Executive through the date of termination pursuant to the terms of the Bonus Plan prorated to the date of termination (the “Termination Payments”), and (C) to have any unvested portion of his Option fully vest as of the date of such termination. 






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(ii)

Termination Benefits. The Company shall continue to provide the Executive with the Executive Benefits for the Severance Period in accordance with Section 11 of this Agreement.

(iii)

Condition to Severance. In the event Executive breaches any of the covenants contained in Section 10, then (A) the Company shall have no further obligation to make Termination Payments to Executive or to continue to provide the Executive Benefits to Executive during the Severance Period, and (B) any unexercised Option shall be forfeited and be cancelled. 

B.

Termination of Employment by Resignation of Executive or by the Company With Cause. Upon the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company with Cause or the resignation of the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall be due no further compensation under this Agreement other than what is due and owing through the effective date of Executive’s resignation or termination, as applicable. 

10.

Restrictive Covenants.

A.

General. The Company and the Executive hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) the Executive will come into the possession of trade secrets (as defined in Section 688.002(4) of the Florida Statutes) of the Company (the "Trade Secrets"), (ii) the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 10 are justified by legitimate business interests of the Company, including, but not limited to, the protection of the Trade Secrets, in accordance with Section 542.335(1)(e) of the Florida Statutes, and (iii) the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 10 are reasonably necessary to protect such legitimate business interests of the Company. 

B.

Non-Competition. During the period of the Executive's employment with the Company and for two years after the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, on the Executive's own behalf or as a partner, officer, director, trustee, executive, agent, consultant, investor or member of any person, firm or corporation, or otherwise, enter into the employ of, render any service to, or engage in any business or activity which is the same as or competitive with the principal business or activity conducted by Company and any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, namely, the licensing, manufacture, and/or distribution to wholesalers of fragrances. The business or activity conducted by the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries shall be deemed to also include any business not currently conducted by the Company, but which during the Term of this Agreement comes to comprise 30% of the Company's net sales or operating income for any fiscal quarter. The foregoing shall not be deemed to prevent the Executive from investing in securities of any company having a class of securities which is publicly traded, so long as through such investment holdings in the aggregate, the Executive is not deemed to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the class of securities that are so publicly traded.  

C.

Confidentiality. During and following the period of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive will not use for the Executive's own benefit or for the benefit of others, or divulge to others, any information, trade secrets, knowledge or data 






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of a secret or confidential nature and otherwise not available to members of the general public that concerns the business or affairs of the Company or its affiliates and which was acquired by the Executive at any time prior to or during the Term of the Executive's employment with the Company, except with the specific prior written consent of the Company.

D.

Work Product. The Executive agrees that all programs, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, reports and all similar or related information which relate to the business of the Company and its affiliates, actual or anticipated, or to any actual or anticipated research and development conducted in connection with the business of the Company and its affiliates, and all existing or future products or services, which are conceived, developed or made by the Executive (alone or with others) during the Term of this Agreement ("Work Product") belong to the Company. The Executive will cooperate fully in the establishment and maintenance of all rights of the Company and its affiliates in such Work Product. The provisions of this Section 10(D) will survive termination of this Agreement indefinitely to the extent necessary to require actions to be taken by the Executive after the termination of the Agreement with respect to Work Product created during the Term of this Agreement.

E.

Non Solicitation. During the Term of this Agreement, and until two years after the termination of Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly (i) induce any person or entity that is a contract manufacturer, supplier or wholesale distributor of the Company's products to manufacture for, supply, distribute for or otherwise patronize any business or activity which is the same as or competitive with any business or activity conducted by the Company or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, (ii) canvass, solicit or accept any business with respect to any fragrance from any person or entity which is an actual or proposed licensor of brands or fragrance product lines to the Company, (iii) request or advise any person or entity which is a customer of the Company to withdraw, curtail or cancel any such customer's business with the Company (provided that the Executive after the Term of this Agreement, if it is terminated without Cause by the Company or for Good Reason by the Executive, may engage in the sale of other fragrance products to the same retailers that the Company sells its fragrance products to), or (iv) employ, solicit for employment or knowingly permit any entity or business directly or indirectly controlled by him to employ or solicit for employment, any person who was employed by the Company or its majority-owned subsidiaries at or within the then prior six months, or in any manner seek to induce any such person to leave his or her employment.

F.

Non-Disparagement. The Executive will not during employment or at anytime thereafter criticize, ridicule, or make any statement or perform any act which disparages or is derogatory of the Company or of any subsidiary, officer, director, agent, employee, contractor, customer, vendor, supplier, licensor or licensee of the Company. The Company will not, during the Term hereof or at anytime thereafter, criticize, ridicule or make any statement or perform any act which disparages or is derogatory of the Executive.






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G.

Enforcement. The parties agree and acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section 10 are reasonable in scope and duration and are necessary to protect the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. If any covenant or agreement contained in this Section 10 is found by a court having jurisdiction to be unreasonable in duration, geographical scope or character of restriction, the covenant or agreement will not be rendered unenforceable thereby but rather the duration, geographical scope or character of restriction of such covenant or agreement will be reduced or modified with retroactive effect to make such covenant or agreement reasonable, and such covenant or agreement will be enforced as so modified. The Employee agrees and acknowledges that the breach of this Section 10 will cause irreparable injury to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and upon the breach of any provision of this Section 10, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance or other equitable relief, without being required to post a bond; provided, however, that, this shall in no way limit any other remedies which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates may have (including, without limitation, the right to seek monetary damages).

11.

Section 409A.  In the event that Executive is a "specified employee" as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i) on the date that Executives separates from service with the Company, the payment of any amount due to Executive hereunder which would be deemed the "deferral of compensation" pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.409-1(b) shall be delayed until the date that is six (6) months after the date of separation from service (or if earlier, the date of the Executive's death).  To the extent that any payment pursuant to this Agreement is due to Executive after the end of such six month period following his separation from service (or death), such amounts shall be paid without regard to this Section 11.

12.

Representations. Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and full performance of this Agreement by the Executive does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which the Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which the Executive is subject; (ii) the Executive is not a party or bound by any employment agreement, consulting agreement, agreement not to compete, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement with any other person or entity; and (iii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement will be the Executive's valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

13.

Assignment. The Executive may not assign, transfer, convey, mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or in any way encumber the compensation or other benefits payable to the Executive or any rights which the Executive may have under this Agreement. Neither the Executive nor the Executive's beneficiary or beneficiaries will have any right to receive any compensation or other benefits under this Agreement, except at the time, in the amounts and in the manner provided in this Agreement. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and will be binding upon any successor to the Company and any successor to the Company shall be authorized to enforce the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the terms and conditions of the restrictive covenants contained in Section 10 hereof. As used in this Agreement, the term "successor" means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by merger, purchase or 






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otherwise, acquires all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of the Company. This Agreement may not otherwise be assigned by the Company.

14.

Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Florida without regard to the application of conflicts of laws.

15.

Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the only agreements between Company and the Executive regarding the Executive's employment by the Company. This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements and understandings, written or oral, between the Company and the Executive regarding the subject matter hereof and thereof. A waiver by either party of any provision of this Agreement or any breach of such provision in an instance will not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of such provision for the future, or of any subsequent breach of such provision. This Agreement may be amended, modified or changed only by further written agreement between the Company and the Executive, duly executed by both Parties.

16.

Dispute Resolution and Venue. If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, and if the dispute cannot be settled through negotiation, the parties agree first to try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Mediation Procedures before resorting to litigation. In the event any party to this Agreement commences any litigation, proceeding or other legal action with respect to any claim arising under this Agreement, the Parties hereby (a) agree that any such litigation, proceeding or other legal action shall be brought exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction located within Broward County, Florida, whether a state or federal court; (b) agree that in connection with any such litigation, proceeding, or action, such parties will consent and submit to personal jurisdiction in any such court described in clause (a) and to service of process upon them in accordance with the rules and statutes governing service of process or in accordance with the notice provisions contained herein; and (c) agree to waive to the full extent permitted by law any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such litigation, proceeding or action was brought in an inconvenient forum. The Parties expressly agree that any breach of this Agreement shall be deemed to have occurred in such County. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY DISPUTE IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, AND AGREES TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO EFFECT SUCH WAIVER.

17.

Severability; Survival. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is found to be void and unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified so as to be enforceable (or if not subject to modification then eliminated herefrom) to the extent necessary to permit the remaining provisions to be enforced in accordance with the parties intention. The provisions of Section 10 (and the restrictive covenants contained therein) shall survive the termination for any reason of this Agreement and/or the Employee's relationship with the Company.






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18.

Notices. Any and all notices required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been given when deposited in United States mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid. Any notice to be given by the Executive hereunder will be addressed to the Company to the attention of the Committee at its main offices, currently 3725 S.W. 30th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 with a copy provided to the Company's counsel, Akerman Senterfitt, One S.E. 3rd Ave., Miami, FL 33131, Attn: Jonathan Awner. Any notice to be given to the Executive will be addressed to the Executive at the Executive's residence address last provided by the Executive to Company with a copy to the Executive's counsel, Devine Goodman Pallot & Wells, 777 Brickell Ave., Suite 850, Miami, FL 33131, Attn: Joseph Pallot. Either party may change the address to which notices are to be addressed by notice in writing to the other party given in accordance with the terms of this Section.

19.

Headings. Section headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any of its terms and conditions.






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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement under seal as of the date first above written.

			
	 
	PARLUX FRAGRANCES, INC.


	  

	 
	 

	                                                                 

	By

	/s/ FRANK A. BUTTACAVOLI


	 
	Name:

	Frank A. Buttacavoli


	 
	Title:

	Executive VP / COO


	  

	 

	 
	EXECUTIVE


	  

	 
	 

	  

	 
	 

	 
	By:

	NEIL J. KATZ


	 
	Name:

	Neil Katz


	 
	 
	 

















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SCHEDULE A




					
	 
	Date

	 
	Amount Vested

	 

	                    

	March 31, 2008

	          

	30,000

	                    


	 
	March 31, 2009

	 
	60,000

	 

	 
	March 31, 2010

	 
	90,000

	 











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