<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 1, 1999, is by and between STILLWATER
MINING COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "Company"), and JAMES A. SABALA ("Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and Employee desires to be
employed by the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;
and

     WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore determined that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company will
have the continued dedication of the Employee, notwithstanding the possibility,
threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company;
and

     WHEREAS, the Company has determined it is imperative to diminish the
inevitable distraction of the Employee by virtue of the personal uncertainties
and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control, to encourage the
Employee's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control and to provide the Employee
with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which
ensure that the compensation and benefits to be paid to the Employee are at
least as favorable as those in effect at the time of the Change of Control and
which are competitive with those of other corporations.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties
agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1
                                  EMPLOYMENT

     The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee agrees to serve as Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer for the Company.

                                   ARTICLE 2
                                     TERM

     The term of this Agreement shall be for a period commencing on the date
above and ending December 31, 1999, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter
provided.  The Agreement shall thereafter continue in effect for subsequent one
(1) year terms, commencing January 1, unless altered or terminated as
hereinafter provided; provided, however, that following a Change of Control, as
defined in Section 5.6, the Employment Term shall continue for no less than one
(1) additional year. The period of Employee's employment hereunder, including
any extension or extensions pursuant to the foregoing sentence, from the date of
commencement until the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement, is
referred to hereinafter as the "Employment Term."
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 3
                             DUTIES AND AUTHORITY

     Employee agrees, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Company,
to devote substantially all of his business time and effort to his duties for
the profit, benefit and advantage of the business of the Company, except that
Employee may serve on the boards of directors of other business corporations
that have no business relationship with the Company and which do not compete
with the Company.  In performing his duties hereunder, Employee shall have the
authorities customarily held by others holding positions similar to those
assigned to Employee in similar businesses, subject to the general and customary
supervision of the Company's Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.

                                   ARTICLE 4
                                 COMPENSATION

     1.1  Base Salary.  The Company agrees to pay Employee a base salary of One
          -----------
Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) per year, payable at the
usual times for the payment of the Company's executive employees, subject to
adjustment as provided herein.  Employee's base salary shall be reviewed at
least annually and may be increased, but not decreased, consistent with general
salary increases for the Company's executive employees or as appropriate in
light of the performance of Employee and the Company.  Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, Employee's base salary may be reduced in the event of an
across-the-board salary reduction for all executive officers; provided, however,
that the percentage reduction of Employee's base salary shall not exceed the
highest percentage reduction in base salary of any other executive officer.

     1.2  Incentive Compensation.  Employee shall participate in the Company's
          ----------------------
incentive compensation plans for executive officers of the Company, as in effect
from time to time during the Employment Term. The Company shall adopt an annual
incentive program for executive officers of the Company that will provide for a
performance based cash bonus of an amount to be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Annual Bonus").  Until changed by the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Annual Bonus shall be set at a target of 35% of
the Employee's base salary, with a maximum which shall not exceed 70% of the
Employee's base salary.

     1.3  Employee Benefits.  Employee shall be eligible to participate in such
          -----------------
other of the Company's employee benefit plans and to receive such benefits for
which his level of employment makes him eligible, in accordance with the
Company's policies as in effect from time to time during the Employment Term;
provided, however, that Employee shall be entitled to four weeks of vacation
during the initial term of this Agreement and during the term of each extension
hereof.

                                   ARTICLE 5
                                  TERMINATION

     1.4  Termination by the Company Without Cause; Termination by Employee for
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Reason.
-----------

                                      -2-
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          (a)  The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
     without Cause (as defined below) upon ninety (90) days' notice to Employee.
     If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company without
     Cause or by Employee for "Good Reason" (as defined below) (other than a
     termination involving a Change of Control or by reason of death or
     disability), the Company shall pay Employee at the time of such termination
     in a lump sum a cash amount equal to: (i) 200 percent of his annual base
     salary in effect immediately preceding such termination and (ii) 200
     percent of the Annual Bonus paid or payable to the Employee for the most
     recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Term.

          (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

               (i)    A material reduction in Employee's responsibilities,
          authorities, or duties;

               (ii)   Employee's job is eliminated other than by reason of
          promotion or termination for Cause;

               (iii)  The Company fails to pay Employee any amount otherwise
          vested and due hereunder or under any plan or policy of the Company,
          which failure is not cured within five (5) business days of receipt by
          the Company of written notice from Employee which describes in
          reasonable detail the amount which is due;

               (iv)   A material reduction in Employee's base salary except in
          the event of an across-the-board salary reduction for all executive
          officers;

               (v)    A material reduction in Employee's aggregate level of
          benefits under the Company's pension, life insurance, medical, health
          and accident, disability, deferred compensation or savings or similar
          plans, except in the event of an across-the-board reduction in such
          benefits for all executive officers;

               (vi)   A material reduction in Employee's reasonable opportunity
          to earn incentive compensation under any plan in which Employee is a
          participant, except in the event of an across-the-board reduction in
          such benefits for all executive officers;

               (vii)  The Company and its successor(s) (as described in
          subparagraph (ix) below) shall discontinue the business of the
          Company; or

               (viii) The failure of the Company to obtain an agreement to
          expressly assume this Agreement from any successor to the Company
          (whether such succession is direct or indirect by purchase, merger,
          consolidation or otherwise, to substantially all of the business
          and/or assets of the Company or a controlling portion of the Company's
          stock).

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     Solely for the purposes of Section 5.6, any good faith determination of
Good Reason made by the Employee shall be conclusive.

     1.5  Termination by the Company for Cause; Voluntary Termination by
          --------------------------------------------------------------
Employee. Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company for
--------
"Cause." For purposes of Section 5.1, "Cause" shall mean (i) Employee's willful
and continued failure substantially to perform his duties hereunder for a period
of fifteen (15) days after written notice to Employee by the Company of each
such failure; (ii) Employee's dishonesty in the performance of his duties
hereunder; or (iii) Employee's conviction of a felony under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof. Employee shall have the right to voluntarily
terminate this Agreement upon ninety (90) days' notice to the Company. If
Employee is terminated for Cause, or if Employee voluntarily terminates
employment hereunder other than for Good Reason, he shall be entitled to receive
his base salary through the date of termination. All other benefits, if any,
payable to Employee following such termination of Employee's employment shall be
determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company.

     1.6  Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Company or by the
          ---------------------
Employee shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party
hereto given in accordance with Article 18 of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii)
to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Termination Date
(as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies
the termination date (which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving
of such notice). The failure by the Employee or the Company to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of
Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Employee or the Company,
respectively, hereunder or preclude the Employee or the Company, respectively,
from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Employee's or the
Company's rights hereunder.

     1.7  Termination Date.  "Termination Date" means the date of receipt of the
          ----------------
Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be.

     1.8  Termination by Death or Disability.  Upon termination of Employee's
          ----------------------------------
employment due to death of Employee, Employee shall be entitled to his base
salary at the rate in effect at the time of Employee's death through the end of
the month in which his death occurs.  Employee's employment hereunder may be
terminated by the Company if Employee becomes physically or mentally
incapacitated and is therefore unable for a period of one hundred eighty (180)
consecutive days to perform his duties (such incapacity is hereinafter referred
to as "Disability").  Upon any such termination for Disability, Employee shall
be entitled to receive payment of disability benefits in lieu of salary under
the Company's Employee benefit plans as then in effect.

     1.9  Termination Following a Change of Control; Benefits.
          ---------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

               (1)  In the event there is a Termination Following a Change of
          Control, the Agreement shall terminate and Employee shall be entitled
          to the following severance benefits:

                    (1)  200 percent of Employee's annual base salary at the
               rate in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or on
               the Termination Date, whichever is higher, payable in a lump sum
               within sixty (60) days after the Termination Date;

                    (2)  200 percent of the Employee's target bonus in effect
               immediately prior to the Change of Control (or on the Termination
               Date, whichever is higher).

                    (3)  The Company shall timely pay or provide to Employee any
               other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or
               which Employee is eligible to receive under any plan, program,
               policy, practice, contract or agreement of the Company (other
               than customary severance pay, office facilities and equity
               incentive program participation) to the same extent that Employee
               would be eligible therefor if he were employed on a full-time
               basis by the Company in the capacity provided for herein for a
               period of 12 months after the Termination Date, including
               receiving the full benefit of 12 months of employment at the
               income levels provided for herein for purposes of any retirement
               plan utilizing years of service as a criteria in the provision of
               benefits (such other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter
               referred to as the "Other Benefits"); provided, however, that (i)
               for the purposes of the Company's equity incentive programs,
               Employee's employment shall be deemed terminated as of the
               Termination Date hereunder; and (ii) to the extent Employee,
               following the Termination Date, becomes employed by another
               employer and becomes entitled to receive health insurance
               benefits from such employer, the Company's obligation to provide
               such health insurance benefits hereunder shall be decreased;

                    (4)  All accrued compensation (including base salary and
               Highest Annual Bonus, each prorated through the Termination Date)
               and unreimbursed expenses through the Termination Date. Such
               amounts shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum in cash within
               thirty (30) days after the Termination Date.

                    (5)  The Employee shall be free to accept other employment
               following such Termination, and, except as provided herein, there
               shall be no offset of any employment compensation earned by the
               Employee in such other employment during such period against
               payments due Employee hereunder, and there shall be no offset in
               any compensation received from such other employment against the
               continued salary set forth above.

               (2)  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

                    (1)  A "Change in Control" of the Company shall mean and
               shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following events
               shall have occurred:

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                    (1)  Any person (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
               Act")) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
               13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
               of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially
               owned by such person any securities acquired directly from the
               Company or its affiliates) representing 30% or more of the
               combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
               securities, excluding any person who becomes such a beneficial
               owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (i) of
               paragraph (c) below; or

                    (2)  the following individuals cease for any reason to
               constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
               individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any
               new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of
               office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
               contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation,
               relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose
               appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election
               by the Company's stockholders was approved or recommended by a
               vote of at least two-thirds (_) of the directors then still in
               office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose
               appointment, election or nomination for election was previously
               so approved or recommended; or

                    (3)  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the
               Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with
               any other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation
               which would result in the voting securities of the Company
               outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
               continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
               being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or
               any parent thereof) at least 55% of the combined voting power of
               the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any
               parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or
               consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to
               implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
               transaction) in which no person is or becomes the beneficial
               owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not
               including in the securities beneficially owned by such person any
               securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates)
               representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the
               Company's then outstanding securities; or

                    (4)  the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
               complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is
               consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
               Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
               other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
               substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least
               60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
               which are owned by

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

               stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions
               as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

               Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Change in Control" shall not be
          deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any
          transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following
          which the record holders of the common stock of the Company
          immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions
          continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an
          entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the
          Company immediately following such transaction or series of
          transactions.

               (2)  "Termination Following a Change of Control" shall mean a
          Termination of the Employee without Cause by the Company in connection
          with or within two years following a Change of Control or a
          termination by the Employee for Good Reason of the Employee's
          employment with the Company within two years following a Change of
          Control.

               (3)  For the purposes of this Section 5.6 only, "Cause" shall
          mean:

                    (1)  Misfeasance or nonfeasance by the Employee in the
               performance of his duties under this Agreement intended to injure
               the Company which has a material adverse effect on the Company's
               business or operations, if such failure is not remedied or
               reasonable steps to effect such remedy are not commenced within
               thirty (30) days after written notice of such violation; or

                    (2)  Employee's conviction of a felony or any crime
               involving moral turpitude.

     1.10 Certain Additional Payments by the Company. Anything in this Agreement
          ------------------------------------------
to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any
payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Employee
(whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional
payments required under this Section 5.7) (a "Payment") would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are
incurred by the Employee 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 the Employee shall be entitled to receive
an additional payment (an "Excise Tax Payment") in the amount of the Excise Tax
(but not any income tax) imposed upon the Payments.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 5.7(a), if it shall be determined that the
Employee is entitled to an Excise Tax Payment but that the Employee, after
taking into account the Payments and the Excise Tax Payment, would not receive a
net after-tax benefit of at least $10,000 (taking into account both income taxes
and any Excise Tax) as compared to the net after-tax proceeds to the Employee
resulting from an elimination of the Excise Tax Payment and a reduction of the
Payments, in the aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such that the
receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

Tax, then no Excise Tax Payment shall be made to the Employee and the Payments,
in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.

                                   ARTICLE 6
                                   INSURANCE

     Employee agrees that the Company may, from time to time, apply for and take
out in its own name and at its own expense, life, health, accident, or other
insurance upon Employee that the Company may deem necessary or advisable to
protect its interests hereunder; and Employee agrees to submit to any medical or
other examination necessary for such purposes and to assist and cooperate with
the Company in preparing such insurance; and Employee agrees that he shall have
no right, title, or interest in or to such insurance.

                                   ARTICLE 7
                            FACILITIES AND EXPENSES

     The Company shall make available to Employee such office space, secretarial
services, office equipment and furnishings as are suitable and appropriate to
Employee's title and duties.  The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for
all reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his duties hereunder,
including without limitation, expenses for entertainment, travel, management
seminars and use of the telephone, subject to the Company's reasonable
requirements with respect to the reporting and documentation of such expenses.

                                   ARTICLE 8
                                NONCOMPETITION

     1.11 Necessity of Covenant.  The Company and Employee acknowledge that:
          ---------------------

          (1)  The Company's business is highly competitive;

          (2)  The Company maintains confidential information and trade secrets
     as described in Article 9, all of which are zealously protected and kept
     secret by the Company;

          (3)  In the course of his employment, Employee will acquire certain of
     the information described in Article 9 and the Company would be adversely
     affected if such information subsequently, and in the event of the
     termination of Employee's employment, is used for the purposes of competing
     with the Company;

          (4)  The Company transacts business throughout the world; and

          (5)  For these reasons, both the Company and Employee further
     acknowledge and agree that the restrictions contained herein are reasonable
     and necessary for the protection of their respective legitimate interests
     and that any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial injury
     to the Company.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

     1.12 Covenant Not to Compete.  Employee agrees that from and after the date
          -----------------------
hereof during the Employment Term and for a period of one (1) year after the end
of the Employment Term, he will not, without the express written permission of
the Company, which may be given or withheld in the Company's sole discretion,
directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, lend money to, endorse the
obligations of, or participate or be connected as an officer, director, 5% or
more stockholder of a publicly-held company, stockholder of a closely-held
company, employee, partner, or otherwise, with any enterprise or individual
engaged in a business which is competitive with the Platinum Group Metals
business conducted by the Company. It is understood and acknowledged by both
parties that, inasmuch as the Company transacts business worldwide, this
covenant not to compete shall be enforced throughout the United States and in
any other country in which the Company is doing business as of the date of
Employee's termination of employment.

     1.13 Disclosure of Outside Activities.  Employee, during the term of his
          --------------------------------
employment by the Company, shall at all times keep the Company informed of any
outside business activity and employment, and shall not engage in any outside
business activity or employment which may be in conflict with the Company's
interests.

     1.14 Survival.  The terms of this Article 8 shall survive the expiration or
          --------
termination of this Agreement for any reason.

                                   ARTICLE 9
                  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND TRADE SECRETS

     1.15 Nondisclosure of Confidential Information.  Employee has acquired and
          -----------------------------------------
will acquire certain "Confidential Information" of the Company. "Confidential
Information" shall mean any information that is not generally known, including
trade secrets, outside the Company and that is proprietary to the Company,
relating to any phase of the Company's existing or reasonably foreseeable
business which is disclosed to Employee by the Company including information
conceived, discovered or developed by Employee. Confidential Information
includes, but shall not be limited to, business plans, financial statements and
projections, operating forms (including contracts) and procedures, payroll and
personnel records, marketing materials and plans, proposals, software codes and
computer programs, project lists, project files, price information and cost
information and any other document or information that is designated by the
Company as "Confidential." The term "trade secret" shall be defined as follows:

     A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device or compilation
     of information which is used in one's business, and which provides to the
     holder an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not
     know or use it.

Accordingly, employee agrees that he shall not, during the Employment Term and
for three (3) years thereafter, use for his own benefit such Confidential
Information or trade secrets acquired during the term of his employment by the
Company.  Further, during the Employment Term and for three (3) years
thereafter, Employee shall not, without the written consent of the Board of
Directors of the Company or a person duly authorized thereby, which consent may
be given or withheld in the Company's sole discretion, disclose to any person,
other than an employee of the Company or a

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection
with the performance by Employee of his duties, any Confidential Information or
trade secrets obtained by him while in the employ of the Company.

     1.16 Return of Confidential Information.  Upon termination of employment,
          ----------------------------------
Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all materials that include
Confidential Information or trade secrets, and all other materials of a
confidential nature which belong to or relate to the business of the Company.

     1.17 Exceptions.  The restrictions and obligations in Section 9.1 shall not
          ----------
apply with respect to any Confidential Information which: (i) is or becomes
generally available to the public through any means other than a breach by
Employee of his obligations under this Agreement; (ii) is disclosed to Employee
without obligation of confidentiality by a third party who has the right to make
such disclosure; (iii) is developed independently by Employee without use of or
benefit from the Confidential Information; (iv) was in possession of Employee
without obligations of confidentiality prior to receipt under this Agreement; or
(v) is required to be disclosed to enforce rights under this Agreement.

     1.18 Survival.  The terms of this Article 9 shall survive the expiration or
          --------
termination of this Agreement for any reason.

                                  ARTICLE 10
                             JUDICIAL CONSTRUCTION

     Employee believes and acknowledges that the provisions contained in this
Agreement, including the covenants contained in Articles 8 and 9 of this
Agreement, are fair and reasonable.  Nonetheless, it is agreed that if a court
finds any of these provisions to be invalid in whole or in part under the laws
of any state, such finding shall not invalidate the covenants, nor the Agreement
in its entirety, but rather the covenants shall be construed and/or blue-lined,
reformed or rewritten by the court as if the most restrictive covenants
permissible under applicable law were contained herein.

                                  ARTICLE 11
                          RIGHT TO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

     Employee acknowledges that a breach by Employee of any of the terms of
Articles 8 or 9 of this Agreement will render irreparable harm to the Company,
and that in the event of such breach the Company shall therefore be entitled to
any and all equitable relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief,
and to any other remedy that may be available under any applicable law or
agreement between the parties.

                                  ARTICLE 12
                        CESSATION OF CORPORATE BUSINESS

     This Agreement shall cease and terminate if the Company shall discontinue
its business, and all rights and liabilities hereunder shall cease, except as
provided in Section 5.6 and Article 13.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE 13
                                  ASSIGNMENT

     12.1  Permitted Assignment.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5.6, the
           --------------------
Company shall have the right to assign this contract to its successors or
assigns, and all covenants or agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by or against its successors or assigns.

     12.2  Successors and Assigns.  The terms "successors" and "assigns" shall
           ----------------------
mean any person or entity which buys all or substantially all of the Company's
assets, or a controlling portion of its stock, or with which it merges or
consolidates.

                                  ARTICLE 14
                   FAILURE TO DEMAND, PERFORMANCE AND WAIVER

     The failure by either party to demand strict performance and compliance
with any part of this Agreement during the Employment Term shall not be deemed
to be a waiver of the rights of such party under this Agreement or by operation
of law.  Any waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not operate as or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach thereof.

                                  ARTICLE 15
                               ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     The Company and Employee acknowledge that this Agreement contains the full
and complete agreement between and among the parties, that there are no oral or
implied agreements or other modifications not specifically set forth herein, and
that this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, if any,
between the Company and Employee, whether written or oral.  The parties further
agree that no modifications of this Agreement may be made except by means of a
written agreement or memorandum signed by the parties.

                                  ARTICLE 16
                                 GOVERNING LAW

     The parties hereby agree that this Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without giving effect to any
choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of
Colorado or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws
of any jurisdiction other than the State of Colorado.

                                  ARTICLE 17
                                ATTORNEYS' FEES

     If either party shall commence any action or proceeding against the other
that arises out of the provisions hereof, or to recover damages as the result of
the alleged breach of any of the provisions hereof, the prevailing party therein
shall be entitled to recover all reasonable costs incurred in connection
therewith, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE 18
                                    NOTICE

     All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

     If to the Employee:
          James A. Sabala
          1403 Solitude Lane
          Evergreen, Colorado 80439

     If to the Company:
          Vice President, Human Resources
          Stillwater Mining Company
          HC 54 Box 365
          Nye, Montana 59061

                                  ARTICLE 19
                                 COUNTERPARTS

     This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has hereunto signed its name and Employee
hereunder has signed his name, all as of the day and year first-above written.

                              STILLWATER MINING COMPANY


                              By:___________________________________
                                 Name:______________________________
                                 Title:_____________________________


                              EMPLOYEE


                              ______________________________________
                              James A. Sabala

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