exv10w1



 






Exhibit 10.1




Superconductor Technologies Inc.




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 11,
2005, by and between Superconductor Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Terry White, an individual (the “Executive”), with reference to the
following facts:



     A. The Company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, is the global leader in
developing, manufacturing, and marketing superconducting products for wireless networks.



     B. Executive is an executive with broad sales experience in the telecommunications industry.



     C. The Company wishes to hire Executive for the position of Vice President of Worldwide Sales,
and Executive wishes to be hired for such position, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.



     NOW, THEREFORE, based on the above premises and in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:



     1. Employment with the Company.



          1.1 Position and Duties. Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to
employ Executive as Vice President of Worldwide Sales, and Executive hereby accepts such
employment. Executive shall serve in an executive capacity and shall perform such duties as are
customarily associated with his position, consistent with the Restated Bylaws of the Company and as
reasonably required by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Executive will
report to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.




          1.2 Full Time and Best Efforts. Executive will perform his duties faithfully and to
the best of his ability and will devote his full business time and effort to the performance of his
duties hereunder. Executive will not engage in any other employment or business activities for any
direct or indirect remuneration that would be directly harmful or detrimental to, or that may
compete with, the business and affairs of the Company, or that would interfere with his duties
hereunder. Executive acknowledges that frequent travel may be necessary in carrying out his duties
hereunder




          1.3 Company Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall be
governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including but not limited
to those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except
that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general
employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control. This Agreement shall not be
effective until the Executive signs the Company’s standard Employee Proprietary Information
Agreement.




     2. At-Will Employment. Executive’s employment with the Company is “at-will” and may
be terminated at any time without cause by either party. Termination of the employment
relationship is the right of each party and will not constitute a breach of this Agreement. No
provision of this Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon Executive a right to continue as
an employee or executive of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated entity. In the event



 









 





of termination, Executive will voluntarily and immediately resign from any and all director
and officer positions he may hold with the Company and subsidiary or affiliate.




     3. Compensation.



          3.1 Base Salary. The Company will compensate Executive for services rendered
hereunder at the rate of Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000) per year payable in
accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to payroll deductions as may be
necessary or customary for the Company’s salaried employees. The Compensation Committee of the
Board (the “Compensation Committee”) will review, and in its sole discretion may increase,
the Base Salary each year.




          3.2 Performance Bonus. The Company will pay Executive an annual performance bonus
based upon achievement of performance goals. The sales incentive bonus for 2005 shall be based on
a mutually acceptable revenue plan for net commercial product sales as follows:




	 	 	 
	    Net Commercial	 	 
	    Product Sales	 	Bonus Formula
	      (% of Plan)	 	(Percentage of Base Salary)
	 
	Less than 70%
	 	0%
	 
	 	 
	70% to 100%
	 	10% to 30% (linear scale)
	 
	 	 
	Over 100%
	 	2.0% of the amount by which net
	 
	 	commercial product sales exceed plan






     The term “net commercial product sales” shall mean the actual net commercial product sales for
2005 as finally determined and set forth in the Company’s audited financial statements. The
foregoing sales targets and bonus payments are for the full year 2005 and will be pro rated based
on Executive’s actual start date. The bonus structure for future years is to be mutually agreed
upon.



          3.3 Equity Incentive Compensation.




               3.3.1 Option Grants. The Company will grant Executive a non-qualified stock option
under its 2003 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase One Million (1,000,000) shares of common stock
with a per share exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the
date the stockholders approve an increase in the number of shares of stock authorized for grants
under the 2003 Equity Incentive Plan.



               3.3.2 Other Terms. All of the options granted under this Section 3.3 will (a) have a
term of ten (10) years, (b) vest 25% on the first anniversary of Executive’s start date with the
Company and 75% in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter, (c) have such other terms as are
contained in the Company’s standard form of stock option agreement presently in use and not
inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement and (d) be subject to all the terms and conditions of
the Company’s 2003 Equity Incentive Plan.



               3.3.3 Stockholder Approval of Plan Increase. The Company will submit a request to its
stockholders at the upcoming 2005 annual meeting to increase the number of shares of stock
authorized for grants under the 2003 Equity Incentive Plan. If the stockholders decline to approve
the increase, the Company will grant options to the Company’s CEO and to Executive under the 2003
Equity Plan (priced with a per share exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s
common stock on the date the stockholders decline to approve the increase) as and when additional
options become available under the plan as a result of the



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expiration and forfeiture of other stock options outstanding under the plan until is has
fulfilled its obligations to CEO and to Executive under Section 3.3.1. The Company will allocate
shares from each available grant sixty percent (60%) to the CEO and forty percent (40%) to
Executive. The Company will not grant any further stock options under the 2003 Equity Incentive
Plan until it has fulfilled its obligations to the CEO and to Executive under Section 3.3.1.




     4. Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans
and programs of the Company, if any, to the extent that his position, tenure, salary, age, health
and other qualifications make him eligible to participate in such plans or programs, subject to the
rules and regulations applicable thereto. Subject to Section 10.5.4, the Company reserves the
right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers to its employees at any time.



     5. Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable travel,
entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive in the furtherance of or in connection with
the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s expense
reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time.



     6. Termination Before a Change of Control.



          6.1 Involuntary Termination. If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated
before a Change of Control due to an Involuntary Termination, then Executive shall be entitled to
receive the following:




               6.1.1 a severance payment equal to six (6) months of Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on
the date of the Involuntary Termination, paid in accordance with then prevailing payroll practice;
and



               6.1.2 six (6) months of coverage for Executive and his spouse/dependents under group health,
life or other similar insurance plans substantially comparable to the group health, life and other
similar insurance plans in which Executive and his spouse/dependents participated on the date of
such termination,



          6.2 Other Termination. If Executive’s employment is terminated before a Change of
Control for any reason other than an Involuntary Termination, then Executive shall not be entitled
to receive severance or other benefits pursuant to this Agreement, but may be eligible for those
benefits (if any) as may then be established under the Company’s severance and benefits plans and
policies existing at the time of such termination.




          6.3 Mitigation. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment or benefit contemplated by this Section 6 (whether by seeking new employment or in any
other manner). No such payment shall be reduced by earnings that the Executive may receive from
any other source.




     7. Change of Control.



          7.1 Benefits. In the event of a Change of Control, Executive shall be entitled to
receive the following in lieu of any payments or other benefits under Section 6 (Termination Before
Change of Control) and regardless of whether Executive’s employment is continued or terminated
(except as expressly provided below in Section 7.1.2 and Section 7.1.3):




               7.1.1 accelerated vesting of fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s unvested stock options;



               7.1.2 accelerated vesting of the remaining fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s options if and
only if Executive does not resign during the six month period following the date of the Change of
Control; and



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               7.1.3 if Executive is terminated due to an Involuntary Termination, then he shall receive a
lump sum payment equal to one (1.0) times Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date of the
Involuntary Termination.



          7.2 Excise Taxes. In the event that it is determined that any payment or distribution
of any type to or for the benefit of the Executive made by the Company, by any of its affiliates,
by any person who acquires ownership or effective control of the Company or ownership of a
substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the “Code”)) or by any
affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise
tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise
tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as
the “Excise Tax”), then such payments or distributions shall be limited to such amount
which would result in no portion of the payments or distributions being subject to the Excise Tax.




          7.3 Determination of Excise Tax. All mathematical determinations and all
determinations of whether any of the Total Payments are “parachute payments” (within the meaning of
section 280G of the Code) that are required to be made under Section 7.2, shall be made by Deloitte
& Touche LLP (or the Company’s then current tax accounting firm) (the “Tax Firm”), who
shall provide their determination (the “Determination”), together with detailed supporting
calculations regarding the amount of any relevant matters, both to the Company and to the Executive
within seven (7) business days of the Executive’s termination date, if applicable, or such earlier
time as is requested by the Company or by the Executive. If applicable, the Tax Firm shall furnish
the Executive with a written statement that it has concluded that no Excise Tax is payable
(including the reasons therefor) and that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any
Excise Tax on the Executive’s federal income tax return. Any determination by the Tax Firm shall
be binding upon the Company and the Executive, absent manifest error. The Company shall pay the
fees and costs of the Tax Firm.




     8. Condition to Severances Payments. All severance payments and other benefits
provided under Sections 6 and 7 are conditioned on Executive’s continuing compliance with this
Agreement and the Company’s policies and Executive’s execution of a release of claims and covenant
not to sue substantially in the form provided in Exhibit A upon termination of
employment .



     9. Indemnification. The Company and Executive will concurrently herewith execute
an Indemnification Agreement identical in form and substance to the Indemnification Agreement
currently in effect for the Company’s other Executive Officers.



     10. Definitions.



          10.1 Base Salary. “Base Salary” means Executive’s annualized base salary under
Section 3.1 and as may be subsequently adjusted upward for increases.




          10.2 Cause. “Cause” means the occurrence of anyone or more of the following:




               10.2.1 Executive’s conviction by, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in, a court
of final jurisdiction for any crime which constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved;



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               10.2.2 Executive’s misappropriation of funds or commission of an act of fraud, whether prior
or subsequent to the date hereof, upon the Company;



               10.2.3 willful disregard by Executive in the scope of Executive’s services to the Company;



               10.2.4 a breach by Executive of a material provision of this Agreement;



               10.2.5 a failure of Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder; or



               10.2.6 a failure of Executive to follow the lawful mandates of the Board.



     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause
without (a) reasonable notice to Executive setting forth the reasons for Company’s intention to
terminate for Cause and (b) an opportunity for Executive to be heard before the Board.



          10.3 Change of Control. “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the
following events on or after the effective date of this Agreement:




               10.3.1 When any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s
then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, other
than the following persons:



                    10.3.1.1 the Company,



                    10.3.1.2 a subsidiary of the Company,



                    10.3.1.3 a Company employee benefit plan, including any trustee of such plan acting as
trustee, or



                    10.3.1.4 any person who, as of the effective date of this Agreement, has publicly disclosed in
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission the beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the
combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors;



               10.3.2 The stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with
any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the
Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
stockholders of the Company approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all
or substantially all the Company’s assets;



               10.3.3 A change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company, as a result of
which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent
Directors” shall mean directors who either (a) are directors of the Company as of the effective
date of this Agreement, or (b) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors of
the Company with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the
time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or
nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of
directors to the Company);



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               10.3.4 The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets; or



               10.3.5 The stockholders of the Company approve the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.



          10.4 “Executive Officer” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 3b-7 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.




          10.5 Involuntary Termination. “Involuntary Termination” means the occurrence of any
one or more of the following:




               10.5.1 without Executive’s express written consent, a material reduction of Executive’s duties
or responsibilities relative to Executive’s duties or responsibilities in effect immediately prior
to such reduction, or the removal of Executive from such duties and responsibilities, unless
Executive is provided with comparable duties and responsibilities over the same business unit;



               10.5.2 without Executive’s express written consent, a material reduction of the facilities and
perquisites (including office space and location) available to Executive immediately prior to such
reduction;



               10.5.3 without Executive’s express written consent, a reduction by the Company of Executive’s
Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such reduction, unless it occurs in connection with a
restructuring or other cost-cutting measure as evidenced by a comparable reduction in the base
salary of all Executive Officers;



               10.5.4 a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee benefits to which
the Executive is entitled immediately prior to such reduction with the result that the Executive’s
overall benefits package is significantly reduced;



               10.5.5 any purported termination of the Executive by the Company which is not effected for
Cause or for which the grounds relied upon are not valid; or



               10.5.6 the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption of this Agreement by any successors
contemplated in Section 12.



The conversion of the Company into a subsidiary, division or other business unit of any successor
entity shall not constitute a triggering event under Section 10.5.1 provided Executive has
substantially the same duties and responsibilities over such subsidiary, division or other business
unit immediately before and after such conversion.




     11. Advice of Counsel. Executive acknowledges that he has been represented by counsel
in the negotiation of this Agreement and is fully aware of his rights and obligations under this
Agreement.



     12. Successors.



          12.1 Company’s Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect
and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets shall assume the obligations under this
Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner
and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence
of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company,” shall include
any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption
agreement described in this Section 12.1 or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by
operation of law.




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          12.2 Executive’s Successors. Without the written consent of the Company, Executive
shall not assign or transfer this Agreement or any right or obligation under this Agreement to any
other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Agreement and all rights
of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive’s personal
or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees.




     13. Notice Clause.



          13.1 Manner. Any notice hereby required or permitted to be given shall be
sufficiently given if in writing and upon mailing by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
to either party at the address of such party or such other address as shall have been designated by
written notice by such party to the other party .




          13.2 Effectiveness. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be
given under this Agreement will be deemed given on the day when delivered in person, or the
business day after the day on which such notice was mailed in accordance with Section 13.1.




     14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the state of California.



     15. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in Los Angeles in accordance with
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Discovery shall be
permitted to the same extent as in a proceeding under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
including (without limitation) such discovery as is specifically authorized by section 1283.05 of
the California Code of Civil Procedure, without need of prior leave of the arbitrator under section
1283.05(e) of such Code. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company shall bear the expense of the arbitrator.



     16. Attorneys’ Fees for Executive. The Company will reimburse Executive for up to
$2,000 of legal fees and costs incurred by Executive in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement. Further, if any litigation or arbitration is commenced (including any proceedings in a
bankruptcy court) between the parties concerning any provision of this Agreement and Executive is
the prevailing party in such proceeding, the Executive shall be entitled, in addition to such other
relief as may be granted, to recover his attorneys’ reasonable fees and costs incurred by reason of
such litigation or arbitration. The prevailing party shall be determined by the court or
arbitrator based upon an assessment of which party’s major arguments or positions taken in the
proceedings could fairly be said to have prevailed over the other party’s major arguments or
positions on major disputed issues.



     17. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement, or any terms hereof, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision or term of this Agreement.



     18. Confidentiality and Trading Restrictions. The parties agree the existence and
negotiation of this Agreement, and any non-public information exchanged in connection therewith,
are confidential (collectively, “Confidential Information”). They will not disclose any
Confidential Information except as provided herein. Either party may disclose Confidential
Information to its employees and advisors who are required to have the information for the purpose
of providing assistance in the negotiations. The Company may disclose the existence of the
negotiations and this Agreement at such time as it determines public disclosure is required under
the applicable securities laws. The parties will not use any Confidential



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Information except for the decision whether to enter into an employment relationship and
negotiating the terms of employment. Executive will refrain from trading in the Company’s
securities until 72 hours after public disclosure by Company of this Agreement. Thereafter,
Executive may trade in the Company’s securities only in compliance with the Company’s Insider
Trading Policy.




     19. Integration. This Agreement and any other agreement referred to herein or
executed contemporaneously herewith represent the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements
whether written or oral. No waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of the
parties hereto.



     20. Taxes. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.



     21. Counterparts and Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by
facsimile.



*** [NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE] ***




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, as of
the day and year first above written.



	 	 	 
	“Executive”	 	“Company”
	 
	

	 	SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 
	Terry White

	 	Jeffrey A. Quiram, President and Chief Executive Officer







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EXHIBIT A




Form of Release of Claims and Covenant Not To Sue




     In consideration of the payments and other benefits that Superconductor Technologies Inc. (the
“Company”) is providing to ____________(“Executive”) under the Employment
Agreement entered into by and between Executive and the Company, dated April ___, 2005, the
Executive, on his/her own behalf and on behalf of Executive’s representatives, agents, heirs and
assigns, waives, releases, discharges and promises never to assert any and all claims, demands,
actions, costs, rights, liabilities, damages or obligations of every kind and nature, whether known
or unknown, suspected or unsuspected that Executive ever had, now have or might have as of the date
of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company against the Company or its predecessors,
parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, stockholders, owners, directors, officers, employees, agents,
attorneys, insurers, successors, or assigns (including all such persons or entities that have a
current and/or former relationship with the Company) (the “Released Parties”) for any
claims arising from or related to Executive’s employment with the Company, its parent or any of its
affiliates and subsidiaries and the termination of that employment.



     These released claims also specifically include, but are not limited to, any claims arising
under any federal, state and local statutory or common law, such as (as amended and as applicable)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With
Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the
Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Industrial Welfare Commission’s Orders, the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Constitution, the California Government
Code, the California Labor Code and any other federal, state or local constitution, law, regulation
or ordinance governing the terms and conditions of employment or the termination of employment, and
the law of contract and tort and any claim for attorneys’ fees; provided, however, that Executive
does not release or discharge the Released Parties from (i) any of the Company’s obligations to him
under the Employment Agreement, and (ii) any vested benefits to which he may be entitled under any
employee benefit plan or program subject to ERISA.



     Furthermore, the Executive acknowledges that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary
and that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to
which Executive was already entitled. Executive acknowledges that there may exist facts or claims
in addition to or different from those which are now known or believed by Executive to exist.
Nonetheless, this Agreement extends to all claims of every nature and kind whatsoever, whether
known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, past or present. Executive also expressly waives the
provisions of California Civil Code section 1542, which provides: “A general release does not
extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of
executing the release, which if known by him/her must have materially affected his settlement with
the debtor.” With respect to the claims released in the preceding sentences, the Executive will
not initiate or maintain any legal or administrative action or proceeding of any kind against the
Company or its predecessors, parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, stockholders, owners, directors,
officers, employees, agents, successors, or assigns (including all such persons or entities that
have a current or former relationship with the Company), for the purpose of obtaining any personal
relief, nor assist or participate in any such proceedings, including any proceedings brought by any
third parties (except as otherwise required or permitted by law). The Executive further
acknowledges that he/she has been advised by this writing that:



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	 	•  	he/she should consult with an attorney
prior to executing this release;
	 
	 	•  	he/she has at least twenty-one (21) days within
which to consider this release;
	 
	 	•  	he/she has up to seven (7) days following the
execution of this release by the parties to revoke
the release; and
	 
	 	•  	this release shall not be effective until such
seven (7) day revocation period has expired.





     Executive agrees that the release set forth above shall be and remain in effect in all
respects as a complete general release as to the matters released.



	 	 	 
	EXECUTIVE
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	                                                            

	 	Date:                                        







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