**EXHIBIT 10.7(b)**

 

**AMENDED AND RESTATED**

**EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT**

 

This Agreement is effective November 11, 2004 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Starcraft Corporation, an Indiana corporation (“Employer”), and Joseph E. Katona, III (“Employee”). 

 

W I T N E S S E T H 

 

WHEREAS, Employee desires to serve Employer and each of its affiliates andsubsidiaries as Chief Financial Officer (“Job Responsibilities”); 

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires to provide fair and reasonable benefits to Employee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; 

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires reasonable protection of its confidential business and customer information and assurance thatEmployee will not compete with Employer for a reasonable period of time after termination of his employment with Employer, except as otherwise provided herein. 

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires to assure the continued services of Employee on behalf of Employer on an objective and impartial basis and withoutdistraction or conflict of interest in the event of an attempt by any person to change Employee’s Job Responsibilities or to obtain control of Employer. 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained and the continued employment of Employee to perform JobResponsibilities for Employer, Employer and Employee, each intending to be legally bound, covenant and agree as follows: 

 

1. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this Agreement, Employer employs Employee to perform Job Responsibilities for Employer, itssubsidiaries, and affiliates (an “affiliate” means an entity controlled by Employer or 50% or more owned by Employer) and Employee accepts such employment. Employee will devote best efforts to the service of Employer, to perform his JobResponsibilities, and Employee will not engage in other employment that conflicts with, or impairs in any way, his ability to perform his obligations as an employee of Employer. 

 

2. Employee agrees to serve as Chief Financial Officer, in connection with the Job Responsibilities and to perform suchduties as may reasonably be required of him by Employer’s President, or any Chief Executive Officer, or Board of Directors, from time to time. Employee shall devote substantially all his business time and efforts to Employer’s business.Employee’s duties shall be performed in or from the current office of Employee in the offices of Employer currently located in Goshen, Indiana, and Employee’s Job Responsibilities shall be of the same character as those previouslyperformed by Employee and generally associated with the offices held by Employee. Employer shall not, without the prior written consent of Employee, relocate or transfer Employee to a location more than forty (40) miles from his principal residence.

 

3. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the“Effective Date” and shall end on the date which is one (1) year following such date, provided, however, each one (1) year term shall automatically renew and extend for consecutive one (1) year terms (the expiration of the original one (1)year term, and any extension term, being an “Anniversary Date”) (the original one (1) year term, including any extension thereof, shall be referred to as the “Term”), unless either Employer or Employee gives a Notice ofTermination as provided in Section 10 hereof, at the time described in paragraph Section 7(B) or Section 7(D) respectively. 

4. Employee shall receive an annual salary of not less than One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars($140,000.00) (“Base Compensation”) for the Term, payable at regular intervals in accordance with Employer’s normal payroll practices now or hereafter in effect. Employer may consider and declare from time to time increases in thesalary it pays Employee and thereby increases in his Base Compensation. Base Compensation shall not take into account any bonuses, reimbursed expenses, credits or benefits (including benefits under any plan of deferred compensation), or anyadditional cash compensation or compensation payable in a form other than cash. 

 

5. So long as Employee is employed pursuant to this Agreement, and effective the first day of the month following the Effective Date, Employee shall be included as a participant in all present and future employeebenefit plans generally available to employees of Employer, consistent with his Base Compensation, and his Job Responsibilities, subject to applicable plan eligibility requirements, such as, group life and health insurance program, 401(k) Plan,Stock Incentive Plan, Executive Bonus Plan, and paid vacation (collectively, “Benefit Plans”). 

 

6. So long as Employee is employed by Employer pursuant to this Agreement, Employee shall receive reimbursement from Employer for all reasonable businessexpenses approved by Employer, upon submission to Employer of written vouchers and statements for reimbursement. 

 

7. Subject to the respective continuing obligations of the parties, including but not limited to those set forth in paragraph 9 hereof, Employee’semployment by Employer may be terminated prior to the expiration of the Term of this Agreement as follows: 

 

(A) Employer, upon written notice to Employee, may terminate Employee’s employment with Employer at any time “for cause.” For purposes ofthis subsection 7(A), “cause” shall be defined as (i) misconduct, (ii) breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, (iii) failure to perform Job Responsibilities, (iv) conviction or guilty plea or nolo contendere plea to a violationof any law, rule, or regulation (other than minor traffic violations), or (v) any breach of any term, condition or covenant of this Agreement. Prior to a termination of Employee’s employment upon the occurrence of any event set forth in thissection 7(A) above, except section 7(A)(ii) and (iv), Employer shall first provide Employee with written notice of his intended termination, setting forth with specificity the reasons for such intended termination, and shall give Employeeopportunity to remedy any deficiencies. 

 

(B) Employer may failto renew this Agreement effective any Anniversary Date, or may terminate Employee’s employment with Employer at any time, “without cause,” upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Employee. 

 

(C) Employee, at any time and upon thirty (30) days written notice toEmployer, may terminate his employment with Employer “for cause.” For purposes of this subsection 7(C), “cause” shall be defined as breach by Employer of a material term, condition or covenant of this Agreement (including, forexample, a change of Job Responsibilities without Employee’s prior written consent), or a “Change of Control.” For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” of Employer shall be deemed to have occurred if during, orfollowing the consummation of, a stock purchase program, tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of substantially all of Employer’s assets, contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, any person,entity or group of persons acting in concert (other than the Employee, or Kelly L. Rose, Michael H. Schoeffler, Jeffrey P. Beitzel, Douglass C. Goad, or Richard C. Andersen, their respective spouses, or their trusts directly or indirectly)(collectively “Excluded Persons”) (i) acquires the power to vote in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting securities of Employer and one or more of its representatives are elected to the Employer’s Board of Directors; or(ii) acquires ownership of the power to vote in excess of 50% of the voting securities of Employer; or (iii) otherwise acquires effective control of the business and affairs of Employer; provided, 

 

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however, that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of any existing or future acquisition of shares of Employer capital stock by theExcluded Persons. 

 

(D) Employee, at any time and upon thirty(30) days written notice to Employer, may terminate his employment with Employer “without cause.” 

 

(E) Employee’s employment with Employer shall terminate in the event of Employee’s death or permanent disability. “Disability” means(i) if Employee is covered by an individual or group long-term disability policy under Employer’s Benefit Plans, then as defined in such policy without regard to any waiting period, or (ii) if (i) is inapplicable, then “disability”shall be defined as Employee’s permanent inability by reason of illness or other physical or mental incapacity to perform Job Responsibilities for any consecutive one hundred eighty (180) day period, provided that Notice of Termination byEmployer because of Employee’s “disability” shall have been give to Employee prior to the full resumption by him of the performance of such duties. 

 

8. In the event of termination of Employee’s employment with Employer pursuant to section 7 hereof, which shall includea nonrenewal of this Agreement on any Anniversary Date as provided in section 3 hereof or in subsection 7(B) a subsection 7(C) hereof, Base Compensation shall continue to be paid by Employer to Employee as follows: 

 

(A) In the event of termination “for cause” by Employer or“without cause” by Employee pursuant to subsection 7(A) or 7(D), respectively, Base Compensation shall continue to be paid, and Employee shall continue to participate in the Benefit Plans and other perquisites as provided in paragraphs 4and 5 hereof, through the date of termination specified in the notice of termination. Any benefits payable under such Benefit Plans as a result of Employee’s participation in such plans through such date shall be paid when due under thoseplans. The date of termination specified in any notice of termination pursuant to subsection 7(A) or 7(D) shall be no later than the last business day of the next month following the month in which such notice is provided to Employee or Employer, asthe case may be. 

 

(B) In the event of termination “withoutcause” by Employer or “with cause” by Employee and pursuant to subsection 7(B) or subsection 7(C), respectively, Base Compensation shall continue to be paid, and Employee shall continue to participate in the Benefit Plans and otherperquisites as provided in paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof, through the date of termination specified in the notice of termination. Any benefits payable under such Benefit Plans as a result of Employee’s participation in such plans through such dateshall be paid when due under those plans. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to continue to receive from Employer his Base Compensation at the rates in effect at the time of termination of the Term for one (1) additional twelve (12) monthperiod. In addition, during such periods, Employer will maintain in full force and effect for the continued benefit of Employee and his spouse and his dependents each Benefit Plan described in Section 5 in which Employee was entitled to participateimmediately prior to the date of his termination, unless an essentially equivalent and no less favorable benefit if provided by a subsequent employer of Employee. If the terms of any such Benefit Plan, or applicable laws, do not permit continuedparticipation in the Benefit Plans by Employee and his spouse and his dependents, Employer will arrange to provide to Employee and his spouse and his dependents a benefit substantially similar to, and no less favorable than, the benefit he and hisspouse and his dependents were entitled to receive under such Benefit Plan. The date of termination specified in any notice of termination pursuant to subsection 7(B) or 7(C) shall be no later than the last business day of the next month followingthe month in which such notice is provided to Employee or Employer, as the case may be. 

 

(C) In the event Employee’s employment with Employer shall terminate in the event of Employee’s disability or death, pursuant to subsection 7(E), Base Compensation shall continue to be paid 

 

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through the date of disability or the date of death, and Employee shall continue to participate in the Benefit Plansthrough such date. 

 

(D) Employer will permit Employee or hispersonal representative(s) or heirs, during a period of three months following termination of Employee’s employment by Employer for any reason, including Reasonable Cause, to require Employer, upon written request and at Employee’s or hispersonal representative’s or his heirs’ option, to purchase all or less than all of outstanding warrants or stock options previously granted to Employee under any Employer warrant or stock option plan then in effect, whether or not suchwarrants or options are then exercisable or have terminated, at a cash purchase price equal to the amount by which the aggregate “fair market value” of the shares subject to such options or warrants exceeds the aggregate warrant or optionor warrant price for such shares. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “fair market value” shall mean the higher of (i) the average of the highest asked prices for Employer shares in the over-the-counter market as reported on theNASDAQ system or other national exchange if the shares are traded on such system for the thirty (30) business days preceding such termination, or (ii) the average per share price actually paid for the most highly priced one percent (1%) of theEmployer shares acquired in connection with any Change of Control of the Employer by any person or group acquiring such control. 

 

9. In order to induce Employer to enter into this Agreement, Employee agrees as follows: 

 

(A) Unless otherwise required to do so by law, including the order of a court or government agency, Employee shall notdivulge or furnish trade secrets (as defined in IND. CODE Sec. 24-2-3-2) of Employer or any confidential information acquired by him while employed by Employer concerning the policies, plans, procedures or customers of Employer to any person, firmor corporation, other than Employer or upon its written request, or use any such trade secret or confidential information directly or indirectly for Employee’s own benefit or for the benefit of any person, firm or corporation other thanEmployer, since such trade secrets and confidential information are confidential and shall at all times remain property of Employer. To that end, Employee agrees as follows: 

 

(i) That all drawings, blueprints, manuals, letters, reports memoranda, notes, notebooks, customer lists andall other documents or materials whether or not of a secret or confidential nature (and all copies thereof) relating to Employer or any of its affiliates business in any way obtained by Employee while employed by Employer shall be Employer’sproperty and shall be delivered by Employee to Employer on termination of Employee’s employment or at any time at Employer’s request together with Employee’s written certification of compliance. This includes but is not limited todocuments or other materials concerning customers, pricing, marketing, and method or process, product or apparatus manufactured, used, developed, or investigated by Employer or any of its affiliates, all of which are CONFIDENTIAL; 

 

(ii) To disclose to Employer promptly and fully anyinvention, discovery or improvement (“invention(s)”), whether patentable or not, hereafter made or conceived solely or jointly by Employee while employed by Employer and which relates in any manner to the business or activities of Employeror any of its affiliates or is suggested by or results from any duties assigned to Employee or work performed by Employee for or on behalf of Employer; 

 

(B) That when requested by Employer, whether during or subsequent to Employee’s employment, to execute patent applications and other instrumentsconsidered necessary by Employer to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States and foreign countries with respect to inventions covered by this Agreement and to make assignments and execute other instruments necessary to convey toEmployer ownership and exclusive rights in such inventions, patent applications and patents; provided, however, that Employer shall bear all expenses connected with such patents, patent applications and 

 

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maintenance of patent protection, and if services in connection therewith are performed by Employee at the request ofEmployer after termination of Employee’s employment, Employer shall pay reasonable compensation for such post-employment services; 

 

(C) That during the Term of his employment with Employer, and during any period for which Employee is receiving Benefit Plan benefits or any otherpayments from Employer, and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Employee shall not: (a) compete, directly or indirectly, with the Business of Employer (which for purposes of this paragraph 9 is defined as, engineering, consulting, productdevelopment of upfit customization of specialized packages, and second stage vehicle manufacturing to General Motors, and also including such business as being conducted by any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), as conducted during the Term of thisAgreement, or have any interest (including any interest or association, including but not limited to, that of owner, part owner, partner, shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant, lender or advisor) in any person, firm or entitywhich competes with the Business in the geographic area described on the attached Exhibit A (each such person, firm or entity is referred to as “Competitor”) other than the investment by Employee in a publicly traded company in suchform or manner as will not require any services on Employee’s part in the operation of the affairs of the businesses in which such investments are made; (b) solicit or accept business for or on behalf of any Competitor; (c) solicit, induce orpersuade, or attempt to solicit, induce or persuade, any person to work for or provide services to or provide financial assistance to, any Competitor; (d) solicit or accept for or on behalf of or for the benefit of any Competitor, any business fromany person, firm or entity which during the term of this Agreement was a vendor or supplier to, or subcontractor for, or commercial purchaser from, Employer; or (e) engage in any business, either as an owner or representative or employee orotherwise, that is competitive with any business engaged in by Employer or any of its affiliates other than the investment by Employee in a publicly traded company in such form or manner as will not require any services on Employee’s part inthe operation of the affairs of the businesses in which such investments are made. Employee recognizes that Employer and its affiliates market products worldwide and, therefore, performance of the same or substantially similar duties in anygeographic region would be detrimental to Employer’s legitimate interests; Employer has a legitimate interest which these provisions are reasonably necessary to protect; the restrictions on competition contained herein are reasonable in timeand geographic scope; and Employee is, and shall not be, unreasonably restricted in gainful employment by these provisions. 

 

(D) If Employee’s employment by Employer is terminated for any reason by either Employee or Employer, Employee will turn over immediately thereafterto Employer all business correspondence, letters, papers, reports, customers’ lists, financial statements, records, drawings, credit reports or other confidential information or documents of Employer or its affiliates in the possession orcontrol of Employee, all of which writings are and will continue to be the sole and exclusive property of Employer or its affiliates. 

 

(E) If Employee’s employment by Employer is terminated during the Term of this Agreement for any of the reasons set forth in section 7 of thisAgreement, and if Employee and Employer in writing agree prior to the end of the Term that Employee disclaims any rights to any continuing payments from Employer (whether by way of Base Compensation, Benefit Plans, or otherwise) after thetermination date, then Employee shall have no obligations to Employer with respect to noncompetition under subsection 9(C) hereof. 

 

(F) Anything in this Employment Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to Employer seeking relief for a breach by Employee of this paragraph 9,Employer shall first provide Employee with written notice setting forth the nature of such breach with specificity, and shall give Employee opportunity to remedy any deficiencies or to provide evidence that no breach has occurred. 

 

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10. Any termination of Employee’s employment with Employer as contemplated by paragraph 3 andparagraph 7 hereof, except in the circumstances of Employee’s death, shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” by the terminating party to the other party hereto. Any “Notice of Termination” must refer to oneor more of subsections 7(A), 7(B), 7(C), or 7(D) and shall indicate the specific provisions of this Agreement and one or more of such subsections of paragraph 7 relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstancesclaimed to provide a basis for such termination under one or more of such subsections of paragraph 7. 

 

11. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, payment of Base Compensation by the Employer or to or for the benefit of the Employee,including such as may be made pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof, shall be inclusive of payments attributable to the confidentiality and noncompetition covenants of paragraph 9 hereof and shall be payable whether or not deductible by the Employer forfederal income tax purposes. 

 

12. The validity, interpretation,and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Indiana. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreementwhich shall remain in full force and effect. If a dispute arises regarding provisions of this Agreement, including enforcement of the confidentiality and noncompetition provisions hereof, then such shall be heard only by the judge and not by a jury,in any court of general jurisdiction in Elkhart County, Indiana, to which sole and exclusive jurisdiction each party irrevocably consents. The prevailing party shall be entitled to its costs, expenses and reasonable attorney’s fees. No attemptwill be made to consolidate, by counterclaim or otherwise, any such action or proceeding with any other action or proceeding in which there is a trial by jury or in which a jury trial cannot be or has not been waived. 

 

13. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communicationsprovided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when personally delivered, or mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: 

 

        If to Employee:
    
Joseph E. Katona, III

16330 Elmwood Avenue

Mishawaka, IN 46544

        If to Employer:
    
Starcraft Corporation

1123 South Indiana Avenue

Post Office Box 1903

Goshen, IN 46527-1903

Attention: Michael H. Schoeffler, Chief Executive Officer

 

14. No provision ofthis Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Employee and Employer. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, orcompliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representation, oral orotherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. 

 

15. No benefit payable at any time under this Agreement shall be subject in any manner to alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, attachment,levy, garnishment, or encumbrance of any kind. 

 

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16. Employer shall withhold any applicable income or employment taxes that are required to be withheldfrom the benefits provided under this Agreement. 

 

17. Employerdoes not guarantee payment of benefits payable under any insurance coverage described or referred to herein, and any benefits thereunder shall be the exclusive responsibility of the insurer that is required to provide such benefits under suchpolicy. 

 

18. Commencing upon the termination date in the Noticeof Termination, the Employee shall cease to be an employee of the Employer for any purpose, and any payments to Employee thereafter under this Agreement shall be payments to a former employee. The right of Employee to receive any Base Compensation,Bonus, or Benefit Plan payments from Employer ceases upon termination of employment, except to the limited extent otherwise and expressly described in paragraph 8 of this Agreement. 

 

19. This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of each party’s personal representatives, heirs,successors and assigns. 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties havecaused the Agreement to be executed and delivered this 15th day of November, 2004. 

 

“Employee”

 
   
“Employer”

 

STARCRAFT CORPORATION

/S/    JOSEPH E. KATONAIII
   By: 
/S/    MICHAEL H.SCHOEFFLER
Joseph E. Katona, III   
Michael H. Schoeffler

Its: Co-ChiefExecutive Officer

 

 

 

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