exv10w3






Exhibit 10.3




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



AGREEMENT, dated as of May 13, 2009 by and between ABTECH INDUSTRIES, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
having an office at 4110 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 235, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251 (the “Company”), and
Lane J. Castleton, residing at 2727 E. Pegasus St., Gilbert, AZ 85234 (“Executive”).




WITNESSETH:



WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and
Executive desires to be so employed by the Company;



NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties
hereto agree as follows:





	1.	 	Employment Term. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts
employment with the Company, as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, upon the terms and
conditions contained in this Agreement. The term of Executive’s employment hereunder (the
“Employment Period”) shall commence on the date hereof (the “Effective Date”) and shall
continue until terminated by either party as hereinafter provided.






	2.	 	Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, and report to the President of the Company. Executive shall
diligently, competently and faithfully perform for the Company the duties of said office as
outlined in the Company’s By-Laws, and such other duties typical of Executive’s position as
shall be specified, designated or modified, from time to time, by the Board of Directors of
the Company. Executive shall devote all of his business time and effort to the performance of
his duties to the Company hereunder.






	3.	 	Compensation.






	 	a.	 	Base Salary: During the Employment Period the Company shall pay to Executive a salary
at the minimum annual rate of $120,000.
	 
	 	b.	 	Performance Incentives:






	 	i)	 	Upon the Company achieving an annual revenue pace of $5,000,000 in a
two-quarter period (i.e., over $2,500,000 in revenue is recognized in a period of
two-consecutive quarters), Executive’s minimum annual salary shall thereafter be
increased to $150,000.
	 
	 	ii)	 	Upon the Company achieving an annual revenue pace of $10,000,000 in a
two-quarter period (i.e., over $5,000,000 in revenue is recognized in a period of two
consecutive quarters), Executive’s minimum annual salary shall thereafter be increased
to $175,000.
	 
	 	iii)	 	Any cash bonuses awarded to Executive during the term of this agreement will be
at the discretion of the Board of Directors.






	4.	 	Expenses and Benefits.






	 	(a)	 	During the Employment Period, the Company agrees to promptly reimburse Executive
for all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties for the Company hereunder, including without limitation expenses
for travel, entertainment




 









 






	 	 	 	and similar items; provided, however, that the Executive provides documentation reasonably
satisfactory to the Company and its accountant for all expenses.






	 	(b)	 	During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any
retirement, pension, profit-sharing, or other similar plan or plans which may be instituted
by the Company for the benefit of its staff employees generally, upon such terms and
subject to the eligibility requirements stipulated in such plans, which may be amended from
time to time.
	 
	 	(c)	 	During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any bonus,
stock option, supplemental compensation, or other similar plans which may be instituted by
the Board or any compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, upon such
terms and subject to the eligibility requirements stipulated in such plans, which may be
amended from time to time.
	 
	 	(d)	 	During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid
vacation per year in accordance with such Company policies as may be in effect from time to
time.
	 
	 	(e)	 	During the Employment Period, Executive and Executive’s dependents shall be entitled to
participate in and be covered by the Company’s group health insurance plan as may be in
effect from time to time.






	5.	 	Termination. Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated as follows:






	 	(a)	 	Automatically upon the death of Executive.






	 	(b)	 	In the event of the Permanent Disability (as defined below) of Executive, at the option
of the Company by written notice to Executive or his personal representative. In the event
of such written notice, Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective
on the 30th day after receipt of such notice to Executive. As used herein, the
term “Permanent Disability” shall mean a physical or mental incapacity or disability which
renders (or is reasonably expected to render) Executive unable to substantially render the
services required hereunder for an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any 365-day period, as
certified by either Executive’s attending physician or a licensed physician retained by the
Company for the purposes of making such determination. In the event of any disagreement
between Executive’s attending physician and such physician retained by the Company, the
matter shall be resolved by a third licensed physician selected jointly by Executive’s
physician and the Company’s physician.
	 
	 	(c)	 	At the option of the Company, by written notice to Executive upon the occurrence of any
one or more of the following events:






	 	(i)	 	any action by Executive constituting fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty in the
course of his employment hereunder;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	any conviction of Executive of a felony;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	insubordination by Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	a breach by Executive of any of his material obligations under this
Agreement, if such breach is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof by
the Board to Executive.




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	 	(v)	 	in the event Company determines it is in Company’s best interest to terminate
the employment of Executive, in which case Executive’s employment shall terminate 15
days after written notice thereof by the Board to Executive.
	 
	 	(d)	 	At the option of Executive, by written notice to the Company, for Good Reason. For the
purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:






	 	(i)	 	the assignment to Executive of any duties materially inconsistent with
Executive’s position (including offices, titles and reporting requirement), authority,
duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2 of this Agreement, unless such
assignment or action by the Company is cured by the Company within 30 days after
receipt of written notice thereof by Executive to the Company;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3
or 4 of this Agreement, if such failure is not cured within 15 days after written
notice thereof by Executive to the Company.






	 	(e)	 	At the option of Executive, in the event Executive determines it is in Executive’s best
interest to terminate employment with the Company, in which case Executive’s employment
shall terminate 15 days after written notice thereof by the Executive to the Board.






	6.	 	Effect of Termination.






	 	(a)	 	Upon the termination of Executive’s employment under Section 5(a), (b), (c)(v),
(d) and (e) herein, Executive or Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as the case may be,
shall be entitled to receive any amounts accrued or fully vested pursuant to Sections 3 or
4 (through the effective date of such termination) to the extent not theretofore paid.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Upon the termination of Executives employment under Section 5(c)(i-iv), effective
immediately upon such termination, Executive shall be entitled to no further compensation
of any sort, including but not limited to any accrued but unpaid benefits.
	 
	 	(c)	 	If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5(a), 5(b) or 5(c)(i-iv) herein (i.e, for “good cause”) or if Executive terminates
employment pursuant to the provisions of Section 5(e), then Company shall not be obligated
to pay any severance benefit to Executive under this Agreement.
	 
	 	(d)	 	If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(c)(v)
herein (i.e., “without good cause”), or if Executive terminates his employment for “Good
Reason” pursuant to Section 5(d) herein, then:






	 	(i)	 	Company shall pay to the Executive a severance benefit equal to Executive’s
salary at the then current annual salary rate for a period equal to the product of (A)
the number of years of service of Executive with the Company (specifically including
those years of service rendered prior to the Effective Date) times (B) two (2) months.
For the purpose of determining the severance compensation pursuant to the above
provision, Executive’s hire date shall be March 16, 1998 and a year of service shall be
each twelve (12) month period of time (including the partial year underway at the time
of termination) in which Executive rendered 1000 hours or more of service. The Company
may elect to pay the severance benefit described herein either as one lump sum within
30 days of the notice of termination, or in a series of bi-weekly installments
beginning on the regularly scheduled payday of the




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	 	 	 	Company which follows the effective date of such termination with the amount of each
such installment being equal to the Executive’s then current bi-weekly salary amount.






	 	(ii)	 	Company shall pay to the Executive an additional severance benefit equal to the
cost of extending the Executive’s health insurance coverage under the provisions of
COBRA for a period of eighteen (18) months, with such severance amount being paid in a
lump sum payment grossed up to cover the taxes that Executive is required to pay on
such benefit.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	All stock options theretofore granted to the Executive to purchase any equity shares of Company shall become immediately and fully vested and exercisable in
accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plans and grant awards.






	 	(e)	 	Upon termination of Executive’s employment for whatever reason:






	 	(i)	 	the Company shall be entitled to deduct from Executive’s final pay any amounts
owed to the Company by Executive at the time of such termination, and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Company shall be required to pay to Executive any outstanding amounts due
to Executive by the Company at the time of termination, including travel expenses,
loans and Company charges on personal credit cards. In addition, the Company shall be
responsible for all Company charges made on any Company Credit Card, or other Company
credit account, that is personally guaranteed by Executive.






	7.	 	Confidential Information. Executive agrees to, and hereby ratifies and confirms, the
terms of the Confidentiality/Non-Compete Agreement dated March 16, 1998.






	8.	 	Notices. Any and all notices or other communications required or permitted to be
given under any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or mailed by first class registered mail,
return receipt requested, or by commercial courier or delivery service, or by facsimile,
addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth below (or at such other address as any
party may specify by notice to all other parties given as aforesaid):






	 	(a)	 	if to the Company, to:

AbTech Industries, Inc.

4110 N. Scottsdale Road

Suite 235

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Attn: Chief Financial Officer
	 
	 	(b)	 	if to Executive, to:

Mr. Lane J. Castleton

2727 E. Pegasus St.

Gilbert, AZ 85234






	 	 	and/or to such other persons and addresses as any party shall have specified in writing to the
other by notice as aforesaid.






	9.	 	Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit
Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice
provided by the Company and for which Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit
or otherwise affect such rights as Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company. Amounts which are vested benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to
receive under any plan, policy, practice or




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	 	 	program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the date of
termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or
contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.






	10.	 	Full Settlement. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any
set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company
may have against Executive or others.






	11.	 	Miscellaneous.






	 	(a)	 	This writing constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and may not be modified, amended or terminated except by a written
agreement signed by all of the parties hereto.
	 
	 	(b)	 	This Agreement shall not be assignable by Executive, but it shall be binding upon, and
shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. The Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company and its successors and assigns.
	 
	 	(c)	 	No waiver of any breach or default hereunder shall be considered valid unless in
writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of
the same or similar nature.
	 
	 	(d)	 	If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any
manner affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other severable provision of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such invalid or unenforceable
provision were not contained herein, unless the invalidity or unenforceability of such
provision substantially impairs the benefits of the remaining portions of this Agreement.
	 
	 	(e)	 	The section headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience only and are
not intended to define or limit the contents of said sections.
	 
	 	(f)	 	This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which taken together
shall be deemed one original.
	 
	 	(g)	 	This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of Arizona
and for all purposes shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws
of said state without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
	 
	 	(h)	 	This Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person or entity other
than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
	 
	 	(i)	 	Each party hereby irrevocably consents to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction and venue
of the courts of the State of Arizona and of any Federal court located in the State of
Arizona in connection with any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or the breach thereof. Each party hereby irrevocably waives any objection,
including without limitation any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds
of forum non conveniens, which




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	 	 	 	such party may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any action or proceeding in such
jurisdiction in respect of this Agreement.




ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO AS OF THIS 13th DAY OF MAY, 2009.




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	BY:  	   /s/ Lane J. Castleton
 	 
	 	 	Executive - Lane J. Castleton 	 



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	BY: AbTech Industries, Inc.

 	 
	 	/s/ Jonathan Thatcher
 	 
	 	Jonathan Thatcher, 

Director and Chairman, 	 
	 	Compensation Committee 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	  /s/ Glenn R. Rink
 	 
	 	Glenn R. Rink, 

President, Chief Executive Officer 	 
	 	 	 



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